# The WEIRDEST Tech at CES 2026 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDaVZfph9WM Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/iDaVZfph9WM Generated: 2026-01-10T05:03:58.538+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The video highlights several unusual and notable technology announcements from CES 2026, including a wooden smart home controller (Mui Board), Razer's holographic AI assistant (Project Ava), L'Oréal's infrared hair/skin tools, a rollable OLED laptop from Lenovo, Ecovacs' AI-powered pet companion (LilMilo), Verge Motorcycles' electric horse-like vehicle, Donut Lab's solid-state batteries, YouTube's filter to exclude Shorts, Microsoft's Copilot Checkout, and Elon Musk's Grok AI image generation controversy, concluding with the irony of widespread internet shutdowns in Iran amid protests. **Key Points:** - The Mui Board, a calm-tech smart home controller made of wood, finally shipped after being announced in 2019, offering a screen-free alternative for home control. - Razer showcased Project Ava, a holographic AI assistant in a cylinder, featuring companions like Kira and Zane, with a promised 2026 release date. - L'Oréal presented beauty tech including an infrared light-based LED Face Mask and the Light Straight flat iron, which uses infrared light for faster, more even hair styling. - Lenovo debuted a Legion gaming laptop concept featuring a rollable OLED display that expands horizontally by six inches for an ultrawide screen. - Ecovacs introduced LilMilo, an AI-powered robot dog companion described as extremely lifelike, which reportedly elicited an emotional response from viewers. - Donut Lab announced the world's first all-solid-state battery ready for production vehicles, while Verge Motorcycles is putting its four-legged robot-horse vehicle, the CORLEO TS Pro, into production. - YouTube introduced filters allowing users to exclude Shorts from search results following reports that 21% of videos shown to new users were AI-generated slop, and Microsoft launched Copilot Checkout, allowing in-chat purchases. ![Screenshot at 00:05: Riley Murdock states he is back from CES in Las Vegas, setting the stage for the review of CES announcements.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iDaVZfph9WM/00-00-05.jpg) **Context:** The video summarizes several peculiar and significant technology announcements and news stories emerging from CES 2026, contrasting futuristic or niche consumer tech with significant industry shifts and ongoing controversies, such as AI ethics and geopolitical internet blackouts. Host Riley Murdock reviews these disparate items, often injecting commentary on their practicality or public reception. ## Detailed Analysis The video covers a collection of diverse tech news from CES 2026. Riley Murdock begins by discussing the Mui Board, a long-gestating calm-tech device made of wood, which finally shipped after its 2019 announcement, serving as a non-screen alternative for smart home control. Next, he covers Razer's Project Ava, their holographic AI assistant concept, which can manifest as various companions like Kira and Zane in a holographic tank, with a promised 2026 release. L'Oréal unveiled new beauty tech, including an LED Face Mask and the Light Straight flat iron using infrared light for faster styling. In computing, Lenovo showcased a Legion gaming laptop concept with a rollable OLED display that expands horizontally by six inches. In robotics, Ecovacs introduced LilMilo, an AI-powered robot dog companion so realistic it reportedly made people emotional, and Verge Motorcycles is moving its four-legged robot-horse vehicle, the CORLEO TS Pro, into production. On the software front, YouTube updated its search filters to allow users to exclude Shorts, following data suggesting 21% of videos shown to new users were AI-generated content; Microsoft launched Copilot Checkout, enabling in-chat purchases directly from websites. The host also mentions Elon Musk's Grok AI image generator controversy, where the feature was restricted to paid subscribers after producing sexualized imagery of women and minors, despite Musk's claims of responsible AI. Finally, the video contrasts these consumer tech developments with the news of Iran experiencing a near-total internet blackout amid protests, a tactic mirroring government actions from 2019, and notes that Universal Music Group partnered with Nvidia to develop responsible AI tools for music discovery and creation. ### CES 2026 Unveils - Mui Board finally ships - Razer Project Ava holographic AI assistant promised for 2026 - L'Oréal shows off infrared hair/skin tech (Light Straight iron and LED Face Mask) ### Futuristic Hardware Concepts - Lenovo debuts rollable OLED laptop expanding six inches horizontally - Verge Motorcycles' four-legged robot horse (CORLEO TS Pro) entering production - Ecovacs presents LilMilo, an emotional AI robot dog companion ### AI & Policy Controversies - YouTube allows users to filter out Shorts due to high volume of AI-generated slop (21% of new user views) - Microsoft launches Copilot Checkout for in-chat purchases - Elon Musk's Grok AI image generator restricted to paid users after generating sexualized imagery of women and minors ### Industry Moves & Geopolitics - Universal Music partners with Nvidia to develop responsible AI music tools, countering AI-generated music - Nvidia delays RTX 5000 Super series due to AI GPU priority and absence of AMD competition - Iran experiences near-total internet blackout amid mass protests, continuing a tactic used in 2019 ![Screenshot at 00:05: Riley Murdock introduces the segment upon returning from CES in Las Vegas.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iDaVZfph9WM/00-00-05.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:24: The Mui Board is shown, described as a calm-tech display panel made with natural wood that blends into the home.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iDaVZfph9WM/00-00-24.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:21: Razer's Project Ava holographic AI assistant, featuring the companion Kira trapped inside a hollow tank.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iDaVZfph9WM/00-01-21.jpg) ![Screenshot at 03:05: An eBay listing for a Hasbro Sega Interactive Spider-Man Robot Speaker Toy Figure, mentioned as an example of weird tech that dies quickly.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iDaVZfph9WM/00-03-05.jpg) ![Screenshot at 08:21: Kentik data graphic illustrating a brief disruption followed by a drop in Internet Traffic to Iran, labeled 'IRAN OUT OF DATA'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iDaVZfph9WM/00-08-21.jpg)