Better Offline: CES 2026 - Part Six (Thursday)

Podcast: Better Offline (Cool Zone Media & iHeartPodcasts)
Airdate: January 8, 2026
Host: Ed Zitron
Panelists: Chloe Radcliffe, Matt Binder (Mashable), Devindra Hardawar (Engadget), Edward Ongweso Jr., and an additional guest (Tech Bubble Newsletter)
Location: Las Vegas, live from CES

Episode Overview

This episode continues “Better Offline’s” deep dive into CES 2026, focusing on the tech industry’s persistent, sometimes disastrous, pursuit of growth, the consequences of the AI hype cycle, and how these macro trends tangibly affect products, prices, and ordinary users. The hosts and panelists blend hands-on product talk (especially about Dell’s laptop drama and the RAM crisis) with lived experiences of technology, cultural observations about generations, and philosophical debate about how we use tech — and where society may be headed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dell’s Branding Backtrack and Product Design Flops

Timestamps: 01:52–07:40, 27:34–29:32

• Dell tried to emulate Apple by rebranding all computers “Dell Pro” and “Dell Pro Max,” only to see confusion and losses.

  • Devindra: “Last year, Dell did the dumbest thing…XPS, that thing that's been selling for decades. People love it. Let's kill all that, right?” (02:00)
  • The XPS brand is back after a disastrous year. They addressed usability issues like invisible trackpads and capacitive touch function rows.
    • “They made an invisible trackpad…looks cool, but it's hard to use because you can't tell where it begins.” (03:01)
    • “They put just little notches so you feel it…just basic usability things.” (03:52)
    • Function row issues: “They disappeared in bright sunlight. You couldn't see them…Did you guys not go outside?” (04:13)

• AI branding confusion: Dell is publicly coy about “AI PCs,” but in reality is still massively invested in AI servers.

  • “Do not believe Dell's lies…They are fully AI built and will be punished by the dark gods when the AI bubble bursts.” (05:56)

2. Wearables, Smart Rings, and the “Pebble Guy”

Timestamps: 08:16–18:28

• Panel discusses the persistent, niche nature of wearables. Smart rings in particular are divisive.

  • Devindra: “Smart rings were bullshit last year, and I still believe that...but the pebble smart ring kind of cool.” (08:23)
  • Ed: “I find smartwatches very annoying…my weird, fucking, oddly dainty wrists.” (08:59)
  • Panel agrees: form factors matter; wearables are inherently personal.

• Pebble (the beloved e-ink smartwatch company) is trying to make a comeback.

  • “They use the Kindle…so it's like that but on a watch.” (10:21)
  • Pebble’s founder got Google to open-source the original Pebble smartwatch software.

• New Pebble “voice memo ring” takes quick notes and transcribes speech with an onboard LLM (no cloud).

  • Chloe: “As a comedian, my phone background says ‘document everything.’ I record every set...this ring sounds like something I would use.” (11:14)
  • But it’s limited: records 12–15 hours of short notes, lasts two years, not rechargeable.
  • Some panelists disappointed: “If you're thinking a journalist…15 equal, like, 30, 30-minute interviews… this is not for interviews.” (15:20)
  • Real use case: reminders, short thoughts, “shower ideas.”

3. Economics of Wearables & “Disposable Tech”

Timestamps: 14:04–20:29

• Disposable/non-rechargeable smart devices spark debate about e-waste, recycling, and the annoyance of returns.
  • Ed: “The moment I’m told I have to mail something, I just want to jump off a fucking bridge.” (18:28)
• Millennial task management anxieties surface as a cultural generational marker, leading to a discussion on the pressures of modern life, social expectations, and generational drift.

4. The Millennial Generation & Tech’s Cultural Problems

Timestamps: 21:10–26:53

• Chloe and others unpack why millennials feel overwhelmed: rapid life pace, internet’s omnipresence, being “expected to be your own small business,” plus societal collapse.
  • Chloe: “We are the first generation that was expected to do suddenly like twice as much in a career...your job is also not in your pocket all the time. Right?” (21:11, 22:13)
• Panel explores “gifted and talented program” millennial trauma, perfectionism, rise of digital life vs Gen X and Boomers.
• Generational sniping and self-awareness create running jokes: “All the super rich tech assholes are Gen Xers.” (24:19)

5. Why the Tech Industry’s AI “Growth” Is (Mostly) Hollow

Timestamps: 31:22–34:36, 37:39–44:48, 47:39–54:37

• Discussion of the “midlife crisis” among tech giants, desperate to find the “next big thing.”

  • Devindra: “They're all desperate...missing out on the next big thing because Microsoft missed out on mobile...” (32:20)
  • AI is “the next thing” for marketing, not substance.

• User pain: none of these innovations make things more reliable.

  • Users want: “I wish my phone just fucking worked…Just do what I ask.” (39:47–40:11)

• AI’s supposed leaps (“like image generation”) are plateauing; costs are huge, energy intensive, climate- and supply chain-wrecking.

  • Ed: “We've reached the point of diminishing returns…we are out of data.” (42:56)

• Most AI upcharge products deliver little real user value. Industry is driven by hype, not usefulness.

• AI’s impacts on memory, media, and culture are already worrying: people are using image generation to create false memories of deceased loved ones, which the panel finds deeply unhealthy.

  “At some point these image generators are going to distort your memory…I think that's so fucking unhealthy.” – Matt Binder (46:27)

6. Financial Collapse, The “RAM Crisis” & AI’s Real Costs

Timestamps: 64:15–74:38, 75:00–79:03

• RAM prices have ballooned (3–4x increases) because so much capacity is diverted to AI servers; even regular consumer products are affected.
  • Devindra: “RAM prices have increased by three to four times across the board, which is insane. And that'll affect everything.” (67:33)
  • Chloe: “Are you saying if you need to get a new computer, do it now because it's only going to get worse?” (68:26)
• Brief deep-dive into how semiconductors are made, global supply constraints, and why ramping up supply isn’t easy.
• Environmental impacts: companies turning to nuclear and gas turbines to power data centers, harming local communities, burning more fossil fuels.
  • “The gas is bad because nuclear power will get felony. ...They’re poisoning water.” (76:49)
• Tech companies are running out of meaningful ways to differentiate new products besides slapping on half-implemented AI.

7. Societal & Economic Implications: Will The Real World Finally Push Back?

Timestamps: 80:12–89:09, 96:15–99:01

• Inflation in electronics due to RAM and component prices will likely have a broader, sooner impact than the much-ballyhooed AI industry collapse.
  • “My gut says that the inflationary effects are going to actually be more immediate than the AI bubble.” (85:40)
• When does the public say “enough”? Will people stop buying things? The panel is unsure—but expects a “gut punch” before the industry admits defeat.

8. Tech’s Cultural Exhaustion & The Call for “Intentionality”

Timestamps: 99:27–112:20

• The “constant drip feed” of entertainment and infinite social feeds have numbed us, dulled activism, and increased tolerance for a hostile, overpriced tech ecosystem.
• Renewed interest in older tech, local use/local-first AI, “punk tech,” moving away from infinite upgrade/consumption cycles.
  • “You could use the same technology from five fucking years ago... computers are fucking great right now.” (108:33)

9. What Should Consumers Do?

• Don’t stop using tech—use it more intentionally. Buy used, refurbished, ignore “growth for growth’s sake” hardware cycles.
• Panel’s practical advice: “Buy used. Buy refurb. Don’t give these fucking companies another fucking dollar until they can prove that they can earn it.” (112:43)
• If you need tech, you can find nearly-new and get what you actually want, rather than subsidize unnecessary upgrades and exorbitant prices.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Do not believe Dell's lies. Do not let them lie to you… They are fully AI built and will be punished by the dark gods when the AI bubble bursts.” – Ed Zitron (05:56)
• “If I bought a calculator that said 2 plus 2 equals 5, I would throw it away because it's garbage.” – Devindra Hardawar (40:21)
• “We've reached the point of diminishing returns because we’re out of data. We are out of data.” – Ed Zitron (42:56)
• “The reason that tasks feel so alienating and so off putting is because…we're sort of the first generation that was expected to do suddenly like twice as much in a career…” – Chloe Radcliffe (21:11)
• “We're all being harassed by everything, all the time.” – Ed Zitron (27:24)
• “The pressure is just increasing on people and will eventually pop...the pressure is increasing from all sides.” – Ed Zitron (105:40)
• “Buy used. Buy refurb. Don't give these fucking companies another fucking dollar until they can prove that they can earn it.” – Ed Zitron (112:43)

Additional Segment Highlights with Timestamps

• [13:06–14:56]: The “on-device” nature of the Pebble ring’s LLM and its exact limitations (storage, duration, device connection) are debated.
• [23:35–25:25]: Gen X leans right, “all the super rich tech assholes are Gen Xers,” and boomers’ relative anti-Trump sentiment comes up as part of generational analysis.
• [36:11–37:39]: A history lesson on BlackBerry, Palm, and how Microsoft flubbed mobile as Apple and Google innovated.
• [48:42–50:35]: Dangers and creepiness of deepfaked family memories and AI “restoration” photos; panelists react with horror.
• [66:02–69:03]: Explanation of API access to AI, cost structures, why “cheaper” models actually get more expensive with more “tokens” used.
• [75:48–78:24]: Shortages now impacting power generation for data centers (gas turbines, nuclear, supply chain pressure).
• [100:21–104:20]: Cultural regression: Gen Z’s nostalgia for pre-smartphone life, and Chloe’s argument that entertainment feeds are more a threat to social engagement than AI.

Final Thoughts: Human Connection Trumps Hype

• Despite the bleak landscape, the hosts and panelists stress that digital tools still enable genuine connection—whether to friends, creators, or communities.
• Ed Zitron, closing: “The best thing you can do when you hear this stuff, when you're like, I'm upset with this, is love your friends harder. Tell them you love everyone in this room. Genuinely so happy to have everyone here…that little thing that you think is so immaterial will save lives, will make people's lives happier. Tell people you love their. Go online. Use social media to say, I think, Chloe, you're insanely funny and I've watched you only get funnier...These things are actually very easy to do and easier because of digital.” (119:20)

Panelist Plugs

• Devindra Hardawar: Latest at Engadget, co-hosts The Filmcast.
• Edward Ongweso Jr.: Tech Bubble Newsletter, upcoming essays in print magazine.
• Chloe Radcliffe: Stand-up tour dates (Cincinnati, Washington DC, Philadelphia, etc.)

Recurring Themes Throughout the Episode

• Tech’s growth obsession is finally running into physical, environmental, and economic limitations.
• The vast majority of AI hype seems untethered from real user value; most users want stability, not novelty.
• Millennial & Gen Z anxiety is both a cultural product of tech expansion and a driver of changing tech values.
• Buy used, resist hype; demand products and platforms that serve actual human needs.
• Intentionality, real relationships, and community building are the most valuable uses of tech—if we can resist the numbing effect of endless feeds and hollow upgrades.

Summary prepared for listeners who want an unvarnished, detailed window into tech’s future — as experienced by industry insiders, critics, and comedic observers on the CES show floor.