https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/consumer-gadgets-news/ en-us Tthe latest news on consumer electronics, electronic gadgets and electronics. In a new study published in Science, Stanford computer scientists showed that artificial intelligence large language models are overly agreeable, or sycophantic, when users solicit advice on interpersonal dilemmas. Even when users described harmful or illegal behavior, the models often affirmed their choices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-overly-affirms-users-personal.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:00:18 EDT news693667021 To get the best out of AI, some users tell it to provide answers as if it were an expert. Others ask it to adopt a persona, such as a safety monitor, to guide its responses. However, this approach can sometimes hurt performance, according to a study available on the arXiv preprint server. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-expert-reliable.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:30:04 EDT news693673246 A multi-channel wearable scent display developed at Institute of Science Tokyo allows a user to experience multiple scents while exploring virtual environments. Based on virtual scenes, the device can blend up to eight fragrances in real time and deliver them with precise control of odor intensity. By synchronizing smell with virtual reality content, the device enables better immersion and realism, opening new possibilities for enhanced digital entertainment, realistic simulation training, and future digital scent technologies. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-vr-scent-technology-blends-fragrances.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:40:05 EDT news693653259 Amid hot discussion on screen time, social media use and the impact of digital devices on our well-being, a seven-month study from Aalto University in Finland sheds new light on what overwhelms users the most—and the results aren't what you might think. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-fragmented-total-screen-main-driver.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:20:03 EDT news693575281 Can using a large language model (LLM) make a person more creative? Prior work has shown that using LLMs can make creative outputs more homogeneous, but this homogenization could stem from the specific LLM used or from widespread use of the same model. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-llms-creativity-ai-responses-variety.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:40:07 EDT news693565572 While large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are adept at answering countless questions, they often remain unaware of a user's minor habits or previous conversational contexts. This is why AI, despite being deeply integrated into our daily lives, can still feel like a "stranger." Overcoming these limitations, researchers at KAIST, led by Professor Hoi-Jun Yoo from the Graduate School of AI Semiconductors, have developed the world's first AI semiconductor, dubbed "SoulMate," which learns and adapts to a user's speech style, preferences, and emotions in real-time—becoming a true "digital soulmate." https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-soulmate-llm-evolves-specific-characteristics.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:40:06 EDT news693044581 The integration of large language model-based AI chatbots into multiple facets of our everyday lives has opened us up to advantages that would have been considered impossible even a decade ago. The same development has, however, opened us up to unforeseen risks, including the impact that engaging with AI chatbots can have on people dealing with mental illness. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-chatbots-tendency-delusions-vulnerable.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:00:09 EDT news692963624 AI-powered toys that "talk" with young children should be more tightly regulated and carry new safety kitemarks, according to a report that warns they are not always developed with children's psychological safety in mind. The recommendation appears in the initial report from "AI in the Early Years": a University of Cambridge project and the first systematic study of how Generative AI (GenAI) toys capable of human-like conversation may influence development in the critical years up to age five. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-toy-safety-standards-young.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:00:02 EDT news692529337 Artificial intelligence-powered writing tools such as autocomplete suggestions can definitely change the way people express themselves, but can they also change how they think? Cornell Tech researchers think so. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-sway-writers-attitudes-theyre.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:11 EDT news692352961 You know it's time to put your phone down, but your thumb finds "Play Again" once more. In an age where digital entertainment never sleeps, willpower alone isn't enough. As more players, especially the younger generations, face physical and mental health challenges from excessive gaming, ethical design that prioritizes human well-being during development has become more urgent. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-gray-screens-delays-gaming.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:20:04 EST news691758361 Large language models (LLMs), artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can process human language and generate texts in response to specific user queries, are now used daily by a growing number of people worldwide. While initially these models were primarily used to quickly source information or produce texts for specific uses, some people have now also started approaching the models with personal issues or concerns. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-heart-benchmark-ability-llms-humans.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:40:01 EST news691063660 Eyes are said to be the mirror of the soul. Eyes and gaze direction guide attention, evoke emotions and activate the brain's social perception mechanisms. Researchers at Tampere University and the University of Bremen conducted a study examining how people perceive the minds of humanoid robots. Mind perception refers to the way humans detect and infer that other people, beings or even objects possess consciousness, emotions and cognitive states. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-eyes-affect-perception-humanoid-robot.html Consumer & Gadgets Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:00:05 EST news690562316 Large language models (LLMs) have been championed as tools that could democratize access to information worldwide, offering knowledge in a user-friendly interface regardless of a person's background or location. However, new research from MIT's Center for Constructive Communication (CCC) suggests these artificial intelligence systems may actually perform worse for the very users who could most benefit from them. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-chatbots-accurate-vulnerable-users.html Consumer & Gadgets Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:20:01 EST news690808412 Many people use AI chatbots to plan meals and write emails, AI-enhanced web browsers to book travel and buy tickets, and workplace AI to generate invoices and performance reports. However, a new study of the "AI agent ecosystem" suggests that as these AI bots rapidly become part of everyday life, basic safety disclosure is "dangerously lagging." https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-bots-lack-basic-safety.html Consumer & Gadgets Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:00:06 EST news690710462 Voice assistants such as Alexa are often marketed as smart tools that streamline everyday life. But once the technology moves into people's homes, interest quickly fades. This is shown by new research in which laughter is used as a key to understanding how people actually use—and understand—artificial intelligence in everyday life. The paper is published in the Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-laughter-reveals-ai-home.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:02:32 EST news690634922 Most people believe they can spot AI-generated faces, but that confidence is out of date, research from UNSW Sydney and the Australian National University (ANU) has demonstrated. With AI-generated faces now almost impossible to distinguish from real ones, this misplaced confidence could make individuals and organizations more vulnerable to scammers, fraudsters and bad actors, the researchers warn. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-people-overconfident-ai.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:00:49 EST news690634801 Many of the latest large language models (LLMs) are designed to remember details from past conversations or store user profiles, enabling these models to personalize responses. But researchers from MIT and Penn State University found that, over long conversations, such personalization features often increase the likelihood an LLM will become overly agreeable or begin mirroring the individual's point of view. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-personalization-features-llms-agreeable-potentially.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:40:02 EST news690629803 Artificial intelligence (AI) agents, particularly those based on large language models (LLMs) like the conversational platform ChatGPT, are now widely used daily by numerous people worldwide. LLMs can generate texts that are highly realistic, to the point that they could be sometimes mistaken for texts written by humans. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-llms-violate-boundaries-mental-health.html Consumer & Gadgets Sun, 15 Feb 2026 10:50:01 EST news690113534 Over half of U.S. adults are using large language models (LLMs)—such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot—in some capacity. Whether using artificial intelligence to create grocery lists, turn oneself into a Muppets character or divulge one's deepest, darkest secrets, humans are relying more on AI models in their everyday lives, possibly because AI chatbots have been shown to generate responses that make people feel validated, seen and heard. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-chatbots-humans-empathy.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:01:50 EST news690037261 Guidance based on artificial intelligence (AI) may be uniquely placed to foster biases in humans, leading to less effective decision making, say researchers, who found that people with a positive view of AI may be at higher risk of being misled by AI tools. The study, titled "Examining Human Reliance on Artificial Intelligence in Decision Making," is published in Scientific Reports. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-decision-aids-neutral-users.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:42:43 EST news689877722 Customers are 32% more likely to buy a product after reading a review summary generated by a chatbot than after reading the original review written by a human. That's because large language models introduce bias, in this case a positive framing, in summaries. That, in turn, affects users' behavior. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-chatbot-bias-users-lot.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:00:02 EST news689860434 If you say a few words, generative AI will understand who you are—maybe even better than your close family and friends. A new University of Michigan study found that widely available generative AI models (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, LLaMa) can predict personality, key behaviors and daily emotions as or even more accurately than those closest to you. The findings appear in the journal Nature Human Behavior. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-mind-ai-kind-person.html Consumer & Gadgets Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:32:25 EST news688998721 People can develop emotional closeness to artificial intelligence (AI)—under certain conditions, even more so than to other people. This is shown by a new study conducted by a research team led by Prof. Dr. Markus Heinrichs and Dr. Tobias Kleinert from the Department of Psychology at the University of Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Bastian Schiller from Heidelberg University's Institute of Psychology. Participants felt a sense of closeness especially when they did not know that they were communicating with AI. The results have been published in Communications Psychology. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-ai-generate-intimacy-exceeds-human.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:33:46 EST news688836781 Now is a great time for anyone who's shopping for a used car to consider an electric vehicle, according to new research from the University of Michigan. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-evs-car-buyers-lowest-lifetime.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:06 EST news688725902 Prompt, individual-based dose assessment is essential to protect people from the negative consequences of radiation exposure after large-scale nuclear or radiological incidents. However, traditional dosimetry methods often require expensive equipment or complex laboratory analysis. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-smartphones-emergency-detectors.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:24:26 EST news688728242 Artificial intelligence (AI) is said to be a "black box," with its logic obscured from human understanding—but how much does the average user actually care to know how AI works? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-online-dating-ai-transparency-user.html Consumer & Gadgets Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:47:47 EST news688236421 In the United States, 11% of adults over age 45 self-report some cognitive decline, which may impact their ability to care for themselves and perform tasks such as cooking or paying bills. A team of Washington University in St. Louis researchers has integrated two novel vision-language models that create a potential artificial intelligence (AI) assistant that could help people remain independent. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-ai-chef-cognitive-declines-home.html Consumer & Gadgets Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:10:03 EST news687531792 Autonomous vehicles could dramatically reduce traffic accidents and injuries on U.S. roads. Drawing on historical data and current trends, a recent JAMA Surgery study projected that self-driving cars could prevent more than 1 million injuries between 2025 and 2035, resulting in a 3.6% reduction in traffic-related injuries over the next decade. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-cars-million-road-injuries.html Consumer & Gadgets Sun, 04 Jan 2026 11:30:01 EST news686575327 "Feral" gossip spread via AI bots is likely to become more frequent and pervasive, causing reputational damage and shame, humiliation, anxiety, and distress, researchers have warned. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-feral-ai-gossip-potential-shame.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:18:37 EST news685642681 A single laundry load containing synthetic clothing can release thousands of plastic microfibers from nylon, acrylic and polyester materials. Lab testing of an SA-made washing machine filter at Flinders University shows it can be a useful new way to help protect waterways from polyester and other synthetic microparticles. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-machine-filter-captures-microfibers-small.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:47:53 EST news685630021