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Retail prices can jump in seconds with high-tech store price tags

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Retail prices can jump in seconds with high-tech store price tags

Have you noticed how technology is rapidly transforming our shopping experiences? From online marketplaces to self-checkout kiosks, the retail landscape is evolving at breakneck speed. Today, let’s explore one of the latest innovations set to shake up the way we shop for everyday items: digital price tags.

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Digital price tag (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The rise of smart pricing

Imagine walking into a store where prices change in real time, just like they do on your favorite shopping websites. Well, that future is closer than you might think. Retailers across the globe are experimenting with dynamic pricing systems, bringing the flexibility of online shopping to brick-and-mortar stores.

Digital price tags (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What’s driving this change?

Several factors are propelling this shift towards digital pricing. Stores can update thousands of prices instantly, saving time and labor. This improves accuracy, eliminating discrepancies between shelf prices and checkout totals. The system also allows retailers to quickly respond to market changes or competitor pricing. Additionally, there’s a sustainability angle, as digital tags reduce paper waste from traditional price tags.

Digital price tag (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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The technology behind the change

Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) or digital shelf labels (DSLs) are at the heart of this retail revolution. These small, battery-powered e-paper displays are wirelessly connected to a central system, allowing for quick and easy price updates. But they’re more than just digital price tags; they’re a gateway to a more interactive shopping experience.

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Digital price tags (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What can these smart labels do?

These smart labels are multifunctional devices. They can display prices and product information, show QR codes for additional details, guide store employees for restocking and assist with order fulfillment for online purchases. It’s like giving each product its own mini-computer.

Showing how smart labels are multifunctional devices (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The potential impact on shoppers

This new technology could bring both benefits and challenges for consumers. On the plus side, we can expect more accurate pricing and the potential for better deals on soon-to-expire items. Shoppers will have access to more product information right at their fingertips.

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There’s also a possibility of lower prices due to increased store efficiency. However, it’s not all rosy. We might see the introduction of dynamic pricing, similar to surge pricing in ride-sharing apps. This could lead to rapid price fluctuations. There are also privacy concerns with the increased data collection that comes with these systems.

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Digital price tags (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Real-world examples: Who’s leading the charge?

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at some specific examples of how this technology is being implemented. America’s largest retailer, Walmart, recently announced plans to introduce digital shelf labels in 2,300 stores by 2026. Given Walmart’s massive market share in the U.S. grocery sector, this move could expose millions of shoppers to the technology.

According to Daniela Boscan, a Walmart food and consumable team lead, “A price change that used to take an associate two days to update now takes only minutes with the new DSL system. This efficiency means we can spend more time assisting customers and less time on repetitive tasks.”

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While Walmart’s announcement made headlines, they’re not the first to experiment with this technology. Other major players include Kroger, Whole Foods (owned by Amazon), Ahold Delhaize, and Schnucks, a Midwestern chain. A recent market study estimates that about 26% of grocers and general merchandisers were capable of using ESL technology in 2023, indicating a growing trend in the industry.

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Employee scanning digital price tag (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The great price-tag switcheroo

When a store decides to make the leap from traditional paper tags to digital ones, it’s not just a simple overnight change. It’s a massive undertaking that requires careful planning and execution. Picture this: a small army of workers descending upon the store, armed with digital price tags and determination.

These “price tag transformers” swarm the aisles, systematically replacing each paper tag with its high-tech counterpart. Shelf by shelf, aisle by aisle, the store undergoes a visible transformation. The familiar sight of paper tags gradually gives way to the sleek, uniform appearance of digital displays.

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Changing out paper tags for digital ones (Pricer) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The bigger picture: Dynamic pricing everywhere

The adoption of digital price tags in grocery stores is part of a larger trend toward dynamic pricing in various industries. We’ve already seen this in ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft, airline tickets, live music, event sales and fast food, as evidenced by the recent Wendy’s controversy. This shift raises questions about how consumers will adapt to more fluid pricing structures in their day-to-day purchases.

Digital price tags (Walmart) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Kurt’s key takeaways

As we stand on the brink of this digital revolution in retail, it’s important to consider both the opportunities and the challenges it presents. On one hand, the increased efficiency and flexibility could lead to better shopping experiences and potentially lower prices. On the other hand, the introduction of dynamic pricing to everyday purchases might require a shift in how we approach our shopping habits.

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As this technology rolls out, it’s crucial for you to stay informed and adapt your shopping strategies accordingly. Monitor price trends, take advantage of additional product information and provide feedback to retailers about your experiences.

What’s your take on this digital retail revolution? Are you excited about the potential benefits or concerned about the challenges? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Most dubious uses of AI at CES 2026

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Most dubious uses of AI at CES 2026

You can’t shake a stick without hitting an AI gadget at CES this year, with artificial smarts now embedded in just about every wearable, screen, and appliance across the show floor, not to mention the armies of AI companions, toys, and robots.

But those are just the beginning. We’ve seen AI pop up in much stranger places too, from hair clippers to stick vacs, and at least one case where even the manufacturer itself seemed unsure what made its products “AI.”

Here are the gadgets we’ve seen at CES 2026 so far that really take the “intelligence” out of “artificial intelligence.”

Glyde smart hair clippers

An extremely normal hair-cutting experience.
Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge
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This is a product that would be silly enough without the AI add-on. These smart hair clippers help amateur hairdressers deliver the perfect fade by dynamically altering the closeness of the cut, helped along by an ominous face mask that looks like it belongs in an optician’s office.

But it’s taken to the next level by the real-time AI coach, which gives you feedback as you cut. Glyde told me it’s working on voice controls for the AI too, and that eventually it will be able to recommend specific hairstyles, so long as you’re willing to trust its style advice. Are you?

Gotta love a CES booth that hands out mystery pills like they’re candy.

Gotta love a CES booth that hands out mystery pills like they’re candy.
Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

“Where Pills meet AI.”

That was the message emblazoned across the SleepQ booth, where company reps were handing out boxes of pills — a multivitamin with ashwagandha extract according to the box, supposedly good for sleep, though I wasn’t brave enough to test that claim on my jetlag.

Manufacturer Welt, originally spun out of a Samsung incubator, calls its product “AI-upgraded pharmacotherapy.” It’s really just using biometric data from your smartwatch or sleep tracker to tell you the optimal time to take a sleeping pill each day, with plans to eventually cover anxiety meds, weight-management drugs, pain relief, and more.

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There may well be an argument that fine-tuning the time people pop their pills could make them more effective, but I feel safe in saying we don’t need to start throwing around the term “AI-enhanced drugs.”

I always wished my vacuum was more intelligent.

I always wished my vacuum was more intelligent.
Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Startup Deglace claims that its almost unnecessarily sleek-looking Fraction vacuum cleaner uses AI in two different ways: first to “optimize suction,” and then to manage repairs and replacements for the modular design.

It says its Neural Predictive AI monitors vacuum performance “to detect issues before they happen,” giving you health scores for each of the vacuum’s components, which can be conveniently replaced with a quick parts order from within the accompanying app. A cynic might worry this is all in the name of selling users expensive and proprietary replacement parts, but I can at least get behind the promise of modular upgrades — assuming Deglace is able to deliver on that promise.

AI-generated art of a bulldog wearing 18th-ish-century military garb and seated on a golden throne, in the style of an old oil painting.

You too can hang beautiful art like this in your home.
Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

Most digital picture frames let you display photos of loved ones, old holiday snaps, or your favorite pieces of art. Fraimic lets you display AI slop.

It’s an E Ink picture frame with a microphone and voice controls, so you can describe whatever picture you’d like, which the frame will then generate using OpenAI’s GPT Image 1.5 model. The frame itself starts at $399, which gets you 100 image generations each year, with the option to buy more if you run out.

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What makes the AI in Fraimic so dubious is that it might be a pretty great product without it. The E Ink panel looks great, you can use it to show off your own pictures and photos too, and it uses so little power that it can run for years without being plugged in. We’d just love it a lot more without the added slop.

Into the ModuVerse.

Into the ModuVerse.
Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

Infinix, a smaller phone manufacturer that’s had success across Asia for its affordable phones, didn’t launch any actual new products at CES this year, but it did bring five concepts that could fit into future phones. Some are clever, like various color-changing rear finishes and a couple of liquid-cooling designs. And then there’s the AI ModuVerse.

Modular phone concepts are nothing new, so the AI hook is what makes ModuVerse unique — in theory. One of the “Modus” makes sense: a meeting attachment that connects magnetically, generating AI transcripts and live translation onto a mini display on the back.

But when I asked what made everything else AI, Infinix didn’t really have any good answers. The gimbal camera has AI stabilization, the vlogging lens uses AI to detect faces, and the microphone has AI voice isolation — all technically AI-based, but not in any way that’s interesting. As for the magnetic, stackable power banks, Infinix’s reps eventually admitted they don’t really have any AI at all. Color me shocked.

This looks pretty smart, but it really is just a microwave.

This looks pretty smart, but it really is just a microwave.
Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

There’s a growing trend for AI and robotic cooking hardware — The Verge’s Jen Tuohy reviewed a $1,500 robot chef just last month — but Wan AIChef is something altogether less impressive: an AI-enabled microwave.

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It runs on what looks suspiciously like Android, with recipe suggestions, cooking instructions, and a camera inside so you can see the progress of what you’re making. But… it’s just a microwave. So it can’t actually do any cooking for you, other than warm up your food to just the right temperature (well, just right plus or minus 3 degrees Celsius, to be accurate).

It’ll do meal plans and food tracking and calorie counting too, which all sounds great so long as you’re willing to commit to eating all of your meals out of the AI microwave. Please, I beg you, do not eat all of your meals out of the AI microwave.

A vertical monitor displaying an image of a margarita. There is a webcam mounted on top.

Yes, that is just a Dell monitor with a Logitech webcam stuck on top.
Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

The tech industry absolutely loves reinventing the vending machine and branding it either robotics or AI, and AI Barmen is no different.

This setup — apparently already in use for private parties and corporate events — is really just an automatic cocktail machine with a few AI smarts slapped on top.

The AI uses the connected webcam to estimate your age — it was off by eight years in my case — and confirm you’re sober enough to get another drink. It can also create custom drinks, with mixed success: When asked for something to “fuck me up,” it came up with the Funky Tequila Fizz, aka tequila, triple sec, and soda. What, no absinthe?

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A palm-sized device with a small screen displaying a cartoon version of Elon Musk.

Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

Should you buy your kid an AI toy that gives it a complete LLM-powered chatbot to speak to? Probably not. But what if that AI chatbot looked like chibi Elon Musk?

He’s just one of the many avatars offered by the Luka AI Cube, including Hayao Miyazaki, Steve from Minecraft, and Harry Potter. Kids can chat to them about their day, ask for advice, or even share the AI Cube’s camera feed to show the AI avatars where they are and what they’re up to. Luka says it’s a tool for fun, but also learning, with various educational activities and language options.

The elephant in the room is whether you should trust any company’s guardrails enough to give a young kid access to an LLM. Leading with an AI take on Elon Musk — whose own AI, Grok, is busy undressing children as we speak — doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

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10 health tech products stealing the spotlight at CES 2026

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10 health tech products stealing the spotlight at CES 2026

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The Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, is the world’s largest consumer technology event, and it’s underway in Las Vegas. It takes over the city every January for four days and draws global attention from tech companies, startups, researchers, investors and journalists, of course.

CES is where many of the products that shape the next few years of consumer tech first appear. Think of it as a preview of what may soon land in our homes, hospitals, gyms and workplaces.

At CES 2026, flashy gadgets and robots are everywhere, but health technology is drawing some of the most attention. Across the show floor, companies are focusing on prevention, recovery, mobility, safety and long-term well-being. These 10 health tech products stole the spotlight in Las Vegas and hint at where wellness innovation could be headed next.

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CES 2026 put health tech front and center, with companies showcasing smarter ways to support prevention, mobility and long-term wellness. (CES)

The 10 health tech products turning heads at CES 2026

From AI-driven health insights to tools designed to reduce everyday risk, these are the health tech products people are stopping to look at on the CES 2026 show floor.

1) NuraLogix Longevity Mirror predicts your health in 30 seconds

NuraLogix introduced a smart mirror that turns a short selfie video into a snapshot of your long-term health outlook. The Longevity Mirror analyzes subtle blood flow patterns in your face using AI and scores metabolic health, heart health and physiological age from zero to 100.

Results appear in about 30 seconds along with clear explanations and recommendations. The AI was trained on hundreds of thousands of patient records, which helps translate raw data into understandable insights.

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The mirror supports up to six user profiles. It launches in early 2026 for $899 and includes a one-year subscription. After this, the subscription costs $99 per year. Optional concierge support connects users with nutrition and wellness experts.

2) Ascentiz walking exoskeletons keep getting lighter and more practical

Ascentiz showed how mobility tech is shifting toward real-world use at CES 2026. The Ascentiz H1 Pro walking exoskeleton stood out for its lightweight, modular design, which reduces strain while supporting motor-assisted movement across longer distances.

The system uses AI to adapt assistance to the user’s motion and terrain, making it useful on inclines and uneven ground. A belt-based attachment system keeps the device compact and easy to wear, while dust- and water-resistant construction supports outdoor use in different conditions.

For users who need more power, Ascentiz also offers Ultra and knee or hip-attached models that deliver stronger assistance. Together, the lineup shows how exoskeletons are moving beyond clinical rehab and toward everyday mobility support.

3) Bambini Kids brings powered walking to pediatric rehab

Cosmo Robotics earned a CES Innovation Award for Bambini Kids, the first overground pediatric exoskeleton with powered ankle motion. It is designed for children ages 2.5 to 7 with congenital or acquired neurological disorders.

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The system offers both active and passive gait training modes. Encouraging guided and natural movement helps children relearn walking skills while reducing complications linked to conditions like cerebral palsy.

NuraLogix’s AI-powered mirror uses a short selfie video to estimate heart health, metabolic health and biological age in about 30 seconds. (NuraLogix)

4) Sunbooster turns desk work into sunlight exposure

If you spend most of your day indoors, one of the wellness products drawing attention at CES 2026, Sunbooster, offers a practical way to replace a missing part of natural sunlight.

The device clips onto a monitor, laptop or tablet and projects near-infrared light while you work, without adding noise or disrupting your routine.

Near-infrared light is a natural component of sunlight linked to energy levels, mood and skin health. Sunbooster uses patented SunLED technology to deliver controlled exposure and tracks daily dosage, encouraging two to four hours of use during screen time.

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The technology has been tested in human and laboratory studies conducted at the University of Groningen and Maastricht University, adding scientific backing to its claims. The company is also developing a phone case and a monitor with built-in near-infrared lighting, which could make sunlight replacement even more seamless in indoor environments.

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5) Allergen Alert brings a pocket-sized lab to the table

Allergen Alert tackles one of the most stressful parts of eating out with food allergies. The handheld device tests a small food sample inside a sealed, single-use pouch and detects food allergens or gluten directly in a meal within minutes.

Built on laboratory-grade technology derived from bioMérieux expertise, the system automates the entire analytical process and delivers results without requiring technical knowledge. The company says the technology has attracted interest from highly demanding environments, including Michelin-starred restaurants, as a way to help reduce cross-contamination risk.

At CES 2026, Allergen Alert positioned the device as a tool designed to restore confidence and inclusion at the table. The mini-lab will be available for pre-orders at the end of 2026, with plans to expand testing to additional common allergens in the future.

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6) Samsung Brain Health explores early cognitive changes

Samsung previewed Brain Health, a research-driven feature designed for Galaxy wearables that analyzes walking patterns, voice changes and sleep data to flag potential early signs of cognitive decline.

The system draws on data from devices like the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring to establish a personal baseline, then looks for subtle deviations linked to early dementia research. Samsung emphasizes that Brain Health is not intended to diagnose medical conditions. Instead, it aims to provide early warnings that encourage people and their families to seek professional evaluation sooner.

Samsung plans for future beta availability, but no public release date has been confirmed. At CES 2026, people can check out the feature during an in-person demo.

7) Withings BodyScan 2 turns a scale into a health hub

Withings is rethinking what a bathroom scale can do with BodyScan 2, which earned a CES 2026 Innovation Award. In under 90 seconds, the smart scale measures ECG data, arterial stiffness, metabolic efficiency and hypertension risk.

The connected app helps users see how stress, sedentary habits, menopause or weight changes affect cardiometabolic health. The focus shifts away from weight alone and toward early health signals that can be tracked over time.

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An attendee sits for a one-minute UNO BrainBody health screening at the UNOVINS booth during CES 2026, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Jan. 7, 2026. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

8) Garmin Venu 4 focuses on health trends, not single stats

Garmin earned a CES Innovation Honore Award for the Venu 4 smartwatch. A new health status feature highlights when metrics like heart rate variability and respiration drift away from personal baselines.

Lifestyle logging links daily habits to sleep and stress outcomes. With up to 12 days of battery life, the watch supports continuous tracking without nightly charging. 

RheoFit A1 delivers a hands-free, AI-guided massage experience designed to speed recovery after workouts or long days at a desk. (RheoFit)

9) Ring Fire Watch turns doorbells into wildfire sensors

Ring introduced Fire Watch, an opt-in feature that uses AI to detect smoke and flames from compatible cameras. During wildfires, users can share snapshots with Watch Duty, a nonprofit that distributes real-time fire alerts to communities and authorities.

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It shows how existing home tech can play a role in public safety during environmental emergencies.

10) RheoFit A1 delivers hands-free AI recovery

RheoFit A1 may be the most relaxing health gadget at CES 2026. The AI-powered robotic roller glides beneath your body to deliver a full-body massage in about 10 minutes.

With interchangeable massage attachments and activity-specific programs, it targets soreness from workouts or long hours at a desk. The companion app uses an AI body scan to adapt pressure and focus areas automatically.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

CES 2026 showed how health tech is becoming more practical and more personal. Many of the products on this list focus on catching problems earlier, reducing everyday stress and helping people make better decisions about their health. From tools that flag potential health risks to devices that improve safety at home, the real shift is toward technology that fits naturally into our daily lives.

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Which of these CES 2026 health tech products would you actually use first in your daily life, and what problem would it solve for you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Disney Plus is getting vertical video

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Disney Plus is getting vertical video

Disney Plus will be getting a vertical video feed later this year, Disney announced as part of its Global Tech & Data Showcase for advertisers at CES.

Based on an interview with Erin Teague, Disney’s EVP of product management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, Deadline reports that vertical video in the app could include “original short-form programming, repurposed social clips, refashioned scenes from longer-form episodic or feature titles or a combination.”

“Think all the short-form Disney content you’d want in one unified app,” Teague said onstage at Wednesday’s showcase. “Over time, we’ll evolve the experience as we explore applications for a variety of formats, categories, and content types for a dynamic feed of just what you’re interested in — from Sports, News, and Entertainment — refreshed in real time based on your last visit.”

Update, January 7th: Added quote from Disney’s Erin Teague.

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