Richard Lawler
This is not Dominic Preston.
At CES 2026, the real Dominic tried out a clone from MyPersonas.ai, which is just one of many AI tools on the show floor this year.
Richard Lawler
Senior News Editor
Senior News Editor
More From Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Now there’s really no excuse for leaving the refrigerator door open.
As Jen Tuohy demonstrates, Samsung’s new Family Hub lineup can use voice control to close the refrigerator door, in addition to a slew of other AI-enabled features.
Richard Lawler
The Cyber Fidget has an OLED display to go with its clicky buttons.
When the Kickstarter launches, it will cost $179 for the machined aluminum version, but if that’s too much, its makers say you’ll be able to get it cheaper with a 3D-printed shell or as just the board.
But until then, you can check out Sean Hollister toying with the Cyber Fidget at CES 2026.
Richard Lawler
Hands-on with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Trifold.
Three folding panels, two sets of hinges, and a frame that’s just barely thinner than a USB-C port, what more could you want? Allison Johnson finally got some hands-on time with Samsung’s trifold at CES 2026, and she’s already thinking of ways to replace her laptop.
Richard Lawler
How well are ChatGPT’s apps working?
While trying to find vacation info, the chatbot told a WSJ reporter that “Tripadvisor is being a little useless.” They tested several chatbot AI apps, and apparently, Instacart is one of the better ones -- having your former CEO become OpenAI’s “CEO of Applications” must have helped.
Other apps were slow, buggy, and complicated, and, at this stage, still slower than traditional iPhone apps.
Richard Lawler
Duffer Bros. say that rumors of cut or unseen Stranger Things season five footage are “obviously” fake.
If you believe internet rumors claiming the Stranger Things finale had “two hours” cut from its two-hour runtime, and have ignored actors and others saying that the claim is fake, the show’s creators have responded.
Asked about it by Variety, Matt Duffer said, “Obviously, that’s not a real thing,” while Ross Duffer added, “I don’t think there’s a single cut scene in the entire season.”
Richard Lawler
Apple Fitness Plus brings new fitness plans, musical guests, and podcasts for 2026.
Just like last year, Apple has announced new fitness content that will start rolling out next week (if you want to try another app, we’ve got suggestions).
There are new multi-week Strength, HIIT, or Yoga Fitness Comeback workouts, new music playlists, a Strava challenge for Apple Watch owners, and new Time to Walk audio episodes with Penn Badgley, Mel B, and Michelle Monaghan.
Image: Apple
Amelia Holowaty Krales
New York City’s eyes were on Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration.
As we noted about Mamdani’s successful mayoral campaign, not everything can be done online, including his New Year’s Day public inauguration (following the private midnight swearing-in). Then the transition team, including former FTC boss Lina Khan, started work on the “sewer socialism” that Mamdani projects as part of “a new story” for the city.
The Verge senior photo editor, Amelia Holowaty Krales, took these photos at a block party during the event.
1/34Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
