Vocci has entered the competitive note-taking ring market at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. While last year saw companies like Sandbar and Pebble announce rings for personal note-taking, Vocci’s device is positioned more as a competitor to Plaud’s meeting-focused tools. The company states its ring can capture notes from up to five meters away and offers eight hours of continuous recording. It will ship with a charging case to provide an extra battery boost when not worn. Though not yet publicly released, Vocci aims to open preorders in the coming weeks and begin shipping after the first quarter of 2026, with an expected price under $200.
CES 2026 is now in its third day. While many high-profile executives have departed, the event remains active. Eureka Park, home to thousands of startups, and the Las Vegas Convention Center halls are still bustling. Highlights from yesterday included an on-stage interview with Aurora CEO Chris Urmson and Hirschbach Motor Lines president Richard Stocking on autonomous trucking. Other news featured Ford’s AI assistant announcement, Caterpillar’s keynote on its AI plans with Nvidia, an AMC show preview, a Waymo robotaxi rebranding, and an update from Roku’s CEO on its new Howdy streaming channel.
Gaming device maker Backbone is expanding its horizons at CES. Founder and CEO Maneet Khaira is showcasing the Backbone Pro controller and engaging with partners. The company confirms it is moving into a new phase beyond mobile controllers, with significant plans for the coming year, though specific details are not yet being shared.
A startup called Donut Lab, a subsidiary of Verge Motorcycles, has announced what it calls the first solid-state battery for vehicle production. Unlike common lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes, offering greater energy density, improved safety, and less degradation. Donut Lab claims its battery can fully charge in just five minutes and, in a long-range version, deliver up to 600 kilometers on a single charge. The battery is also designed to be stable in extreme temperatures and eliminate flammable liquids, addressing fire risks and cold-weather performance issues. The batteries will first appear in Verge Motorcycles models early this year.
Ford has announced it is developing an AI assistant. The assistant will first debut in the company’s smartphone app before expanding to its vehicles in 2027. Ford also previewed a next-generation version of its BlueCruise advanced driver-assistance system, described as more capable and cheaper to produce, with a path toward eyes-off driving by 2028.
Actor and startup founder Joseph Gordon-Levitt expressed significant concerns about the business models of major AI companies. Speaking at the Variety Entertainment Summit, he argued the core issue is not the technology itself but the business incentives, which he fears are leading to a dark path. He stressed that AI companies should not be excused for training their models on content without consent or compensation. Gordon-Levitt is directing a thriller about AI for Netflix, starring Rachel McAdams.
Fox Entertainment CMO Darren Schillace detailed the company’s strategy for reaching viewers in the streaming era. He explained that while broadcast networks attract older audiences, Fox uses platforms like Hulu and Netflix to engage younger viewers. The show “Doc” was cited as an example, where placing the first season on Netflix drove a significant influx of new fans. The company’s primary metric is total viewership across all generations and platforms.
The Infinite Machine P1 and other scooters from the Brooklyn-based company were tested off the CES show floor. Noted for their distinctive, Cybertruck-inspired styling, the scooters were described as competent and fun to ride, standing out in a year with relatively little micromobility presence at the event.
Viaim, known for AI earbuds, has introduced a new battery-powered AI smart speaker designed for conference rooms. The device can translate, transcribe, change camera views with gestures, and perform other tasks, offering portability for meeting spaces.
A Vizio executive explained Walmart’s $2.3 billion acquisition of the TV maker in 2024. The primary reason was to gain access to Automatic Content Recognition data, which tracks what viewers watch across cable and streaming services. By combining this viewership data with Walmart’s shopping data, the company aims to create detailed advertising attribution solutions.
Lenovo is experimenting with an AI wearable under the Motorola brand, codenamed Project Maxwell. This concept device, presented as a pin, is designed to continuously hear and capture your surroundings to provide recommendations and insights. Lenovo clarified the gadget is only a concept with no confirmed commercial release, and did not provide details on privacy measures for the always-capturing device.
Skylight has debuted the Skylight Calendar 2 at CES. Evolving from its digital picture frame origins, Skylight now focuses on family organization tools. The new calendar features a sleeker design than the original, allows for customizable frame colors, and helps families manage shared calendars, lists, and meal planning.