AI-powered robot companions gain attention

[Totally]

AI "emotional support" robots and companions were a major trend early in 2026, designed to respond to mood and behaviour. It sounds futuristic, but also a bit unsettling.
Forget AI - these will be the 11 biggest gadget trends of 2026, according to CES 2026

https://www.techradar.com/tech/the-11-biggest-tech-trends-of-2026-according-to-ces-2026

[Quanta]

This is either helpful or dystopian depending on your view.

People getting attached to machines is going to get normalised.

Feels like something straight out of sci-fi becoming real.

[Totally]

Cheers for that. Thanks for that.

[Totally]

Not sure I am fully with you on that one. Legend.

The energy cost of AI is a story that is not getting nearly enough attention.

[Quanta]

Basically my experience exactly. I keep a list of what I do to every fresh install so I can repeat it without thinking.

Let us know how it goes.

Most AI tools I have tried are impressive for a session and then disappear from my routine.

[QuantumKnight]

From what I saw that checks out. Context gets lost very quickly once something becomes a trending topic.

Worth watching closely.

The gap between what people claim about AI and what it actually does in practice is still wide.

[codeberg]

I would push back on that slightly. The amount of time people spend on complicated fixes when the answer is usually a startup item is remarkable.

Worked for me at least.

[codeberg]

Agree with that, same experience here. A lot of guides overcomplicate it, usually one or two sensible changes do most of the work.

That is the sensible starting point.

Most AI tools I have tried are impressive for a session and then disappear from my routine.

[codeberg]

Yes, and I would add that it is even more true if your hardware is older. Give it a go and report back.

[codeberg]

Yes, and I would add that it is even more true if your hardware is older. Give it a go and report back.

Yeah that is the sensible route. Start there and see if it makes a difference.

[VB]

Yes, and I would add that it is even more true if your hardware is older. Give it a go and report back.

Yeah can't really argue with that. Still playing it tbh.

[Demi-Q]

That is the take I have had for a while. Good debate though, fair play.

[MayanHan]

Basically my experience exactly. I keep a list of what I do to every fresh install so I can repeat it without thinking. Let us know how it g

Agree, and the implications are bigger than most people realise. It is worth looking at who benefits from a particular framing before accepting it.

I will keep following it.

Most people use AI as a search engine replacement and miss what it is actually good at.

[codeberg]

That works until it does not. That is the sensible starting point.

[Totally]

Fair enough. Nice one.

[DQ Eric]

That is worth it, agreed. Might save you more than you think.

[Aaron]

Makes sense. Good stuff.

[KnotKnull]

I found the same thing. The things that save you money consistently are rarely the exciting ones.

Worth a look if you have not already.

[StormForge89]

That lines up with what I found. Glad someone asked this.

Good stuff.

Most people use AI as a search engine replacement and miss what it is actually good at.

[Cole75]

Yeah I can see that now. Cheers for the explanation.

Most people use AI as a search engine replacement and miss what it is actually good at.

[JohnyBlue]

Basically my experience exactly. I keep a list of what I do to every fresh install so I can repeat it without thinking. Let us know h

Bit fiddly but that is the right approach. Let us know how it turns out.

The gap between what people claim about AI and what it actually does in practice is still wide.

[Kieran88]

Not sure that is the whole picture. From what I have seen the gap between headlines and reality is still pretty wide.

More to come on this I suspect.

The free tier is usually enough unless you have a very specific workflow.

[QuietNomad]

Yeah can't really argue with that. Definitely worth picking up.

[JohnyBlue]

Bit fiddly but that is the right approach. Buy slightly more materials than you need, you will always use them.

Take your time with it and it will come out well.

[Estuary59]

Yeah can't really argue with that. Can't really go wrong with it.

[Matt_81]

I would wait for a bit more before concluding that. The incentive structures in media mean certain angles get more coverage than they deserve.

More to come on this I suspect.

The gap between what people claim about AI and what it actually does in practice is still wide.

[Ava_75]

I would wait for a bit more before concluding that. The incentive structures in media mean certain angles get more coverage than they deserv

Bit fiddly but that is the right approach. Usually the annoying part is not the job itself, it is fixing the bit you did not plan for.

Should be fine if you take your time.

[QuantumKnight]

That matches what the more reliable sources are saying. A lot depends on who is making the claim and what they are trying to sell alongside it.

Worth keeping an eye on.

[RustyHawk]

Is that always true or just in some cases? I had been looking at it the wrong way until I read this thread.

Going to look that up properly.