The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is known for showcasing the latest and greatest technological innovations. However, amidst the excitement and buzz surrounding the event, there are always products that raise concerns and fail to live up to expectations. This year, a panel of experts has identified and awarded the "Worst in Show" products that they believe could potentially harm society and the planet.

The panel, consisting of consumer and privacy advocates from organizations such as Consumer Reports, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and iFixit, judged the products based on their potential negative impact, including safety risks, wasteful overconsumption, and privacy violations. Their goal was to highlight products that could have a detrimental effect if widely adopted and were significantly worse than previous versions of similar technology.

One of the recipients of the "Worst in Show" award was carmaker BMW, which received two brickbats. One of the concerns raised was the partnership between BMW and Amazon's voice assistant, Alexa. While the idea of having an Alexa "car expert" sounds convenient, there are worries about potential privacy and safety issues. The judges pointed out that abusive individuals could use the voice assistant to track and harm their victims. They emphasized the need for car companies to prioritize victim safety and provide the option to disable such features. BMW defended its voice assistant, stating that privacy and customer trust were essential to their design and that customers could choose whether or not to use it.

BMW also showcased augmented-reality glasses designed by Xreal, which overlay helpful information and virtual objects for drivers. However, one judge expressed concerns about distracted driving and the possibility of vision-obscuring advertisements. BMW assured that minimizing driver distraction was a priority, and the CES demonstration was only a showcase of potential use cases.

Another recipient of the "Worst in Show" award was German audio electronics-maker Sennheiser. Their latest generation of Momentum True Wireless ear headphones, priced at $300, was criticized for being too disposable. The earbuds have three separate batteries that are likely to fail after a few years and cannot be easily replaced. The judges called for Sennheiser to provide repair instructions and make the battery easier to swap.

Instacart's “AI-powered” shopping cart also faced criticism. Equipped with cameras and sensors, the cart displays real-time recommendations based on customers' purchases, potentially pushing junk food based on their shopping behavior. This raised concerns about overwhelming grocery stores and the negative impact of advertising on consumers' choices.

The cybersecurity "Worst in Show" award went to China-based robot vacuum-maker Ecovacs. Their new X2 Combo robot vacuum combines various intrusive surveillance features, including cameras, microphones, LiDAR, voice recognition, and computer vision. The concern is that the device's unencrypted images and video feed could be vulnerable to hacking, compromising users' privacy.

Lastly, Revolution Cooking's $1,800 "macrowave," which combines a microwave with a convection oven, received the environmental impact "Worst in Show" award. The judges argued that such trendy gadgets often encourage people to discard perfectly functional appliances, leading to increased environmental impact and resource consumption.

While these products may not have received the recognition and praise that other innovations did at CES, their inclusion in the "Worst in Show" list serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the potential negative consequences of technological advancements. It is crucial for companies to prioritize safety, privacy, and sustainability as they develop and introduce new products.