As we move deeper into the 21st century, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the tech industry, especially in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), is often at odds with the actual needs of consumers. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 brought forth a bewildering array of AI-driven gadgets that seemed less about innovation and more about a desperate grasp for market relevance. The showcase included curious inventions like Spicerr, an “intelligent” spice dispenser that purportedly learns your culinary preferences. While the concept appears imaginative on the surface, a deeper evaluation reveals its glaring shortcomings: it doesn’t grind spices and relies on expensive, non-reusable capsules. The real question arises: was there ever a genuine demand for a high-tech spice cabinet?
Similar head-scratchers were evident with the Dreo ChefMaker 2, an AI-enabled air fryer. This appliance promises to scan cookbooks and automatically adjust times and temperatures per recipe, but one has to wonder—do consumers truly need an air fryer that scans pages for them? As a member of the target market myself, I can’t recall anyone expressing a strong desire for such a feature. Instead, it just feels like a clumsy attempt to pair two functionalities that were previously unattached. Here lies a cluster of confusion: functionality for functionality’s sake, rather than an actual effort to enhance the cooking experience.
Then there’s Razer’s Project Ava, an “AI gaming copilot” that sounds like it was conceptually lifted from a science fiction film. Ava offers real-time suggestions while gaming—capturing the screen and imparting advice like, “Dodge when the blade spins.” The execution is less than stellar, leading to delays that detract from the gaming experience. Furthermore, this tool raises ethical concerns regarding intellectual property since it appears to rely on existing gaming guides without credit. The question lingers: who genuinely wants a gameplay assistant that distracts rather than enriches?
The Hype Train Running on Empty
At the heart of these erratic innovations lies a significant dilemma—the tech industry’s incessant hype surrounding AI has led to an array of underwhelming products. Companies seem to have collectively lifted their hands in a ‘throw it all at the wall and see what sticks’ approach, spurred by significant investment funds, totaling a staggering $97 billion in the U.S. last year. While investors are undoubtedly thrilled by the potential of next-gen technologies, the reality is more dire. As these companies scramble to demonstrate AI’s capabilities, they continue to miss the mark, illustrating a tendency to overpromise and underdeliver.
In practical applications, AI still struggles with real-world complexities. ChatGPT falters with factual inaccuracies, while image-generating AIs often produce distorted visuals, a far cry from their promised prowess. The outcome is a collection of products—spice dispensers, air fryers, and gaming assistants—that neither meet customer desire nor showcase the promise that AI represents. Meanwhile, the hype morphs into a façade, creating an illusion of progress that lacks substantial grounding in user needs.
CES 2025 may serve as a lesson in the urgent need for the tech industry to recalibrate its focus. Promoting products simply for the sake of marketability without considering genuine user utility leads to lackluster innovations that might excite investors but fall flat in consumer eyes. If AI is to evolve meaningfully, there should be a renewed focus on genuine problem-solving, tailoring advancements to real-life applications rather than abstract concepts.
Moving forward, the industry must develop a framework that aligns technology with user needs and ethical considerations. It’s time to implement a strategy that prioritizes innovation with purpose, ensuring that AI can successfully enhance our lives rather than inundate us with unnecessary and poorly conceived gadgets. Here’s hoping for a more discerning and consumer-oriented future in technology as we embark on the next year.