CES has been around a long time, and as the world’s largest tech show, it has a notorious reputation for turning up gadgets that we didn’t really need. Self-adjusting belts, toilet robots, you name it, someone paid to have it built. It’s only Day 2 here at CES and we’ve already seen some real doozies. Orange juice that’s free of AI, huh! Who knows what preposterousness the next few days will hold?
Stalker robot that watches you sleep
Watch this: Samsung Has a Ballie: AI Robot Helps Around the House
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A computer you put in your mouth?
Flappie makes your predator leave its prey at the door.
Flappie
Just as Ballie sounds like the movie Wall-E, this gadget sounds a lot like the film Chappie. Except unlike the sweet swag of the fictional robot Chappie, this gadget is not saving the people of near-future South Africa. No, instead Flappie keeps your house free of dead birds and mice. Through your cat flap. Surely this smart device should be able to detect something more useful entering your house, like possums, raccoons or interloper neighborhood cats intent on stealing your cat’s food and spraying its territory. Better yet, circus performers moonlighting as international master thieves!
Here’s another thing: If Flappie won’t let your cat inside if it detects your feline friend dragging dead things around, that still leaves you with a dead thing in your garage or on your doorstep.
An app-free personal assistant that isn’t your phone
AI-free OJ. OK.
Tropicana
CES is all about getting people’s attention and we’re used to the toilet paper robots and the vacuum shoes, but one of the silliest announcements at this year’s conference is “AI-free orange juice.” Yes, Tropicana is making a special edition of its OJ called “Tropcn” because it doesn’t have computers in it or something. No As or Is in there, that’s for certain! As it turns out, IAA is a plant hormone, so maybe this is a joke for the horticulturalists.
