IFA Berlin showcases AI robots and wearables as safety warnings grow
The IFA Berlin tech fair is showing AI robots, wearable assistants and smart toys, while speakers warn about AI safety, privacy and human security.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Visitors to IFA Berlin, one of the world's biggest technology trade shows, are being shown a wave of artificial intelligence products that promise smarter homes, sleeker phones and bigger television screens. Nearly 2,000 exhibitors from around the world are attending. Many say their products are packed with AI, and this year robots are a central draw.
Robots at the fair come in many forms. The M1 Zeroth is a 15-inch humanoid with a camera that can scan a house, build a map and patrol like a security camera. It has a companion robot for outdoor use. Other machines are being built for football. A showcase for RoboCup, an international football competition for robots, is demonstrating how different technologies must work together. Organisers say the work is not only about better football. The same software could support household tasks, industrial work and elderly care. A human versus robot penalty shootout drew attention.
Away from humanoids, smaller AI devices are on display. Chow Chow is an AI-powered cuddly toy for children. It responds to touch or tone and reports back to parents on a child's emotional wellbeing. The iCaros is a wearable AI assistant in pen form. It has a microphone and a camera that slides open or closed. Its makers say it can see surroundings, know who a user is talking to and help with questions. The closing camera and a visible privacy symbol are meant to address surveillance concerns. Plaud One is a set of earbuds, a microphone and a charging case that use AI to record and analyse nearby conversations. A user can press a button and ask the assistant questions, such as the weather in Berlin, and review chat history on a phone.
Xiaomi is attending IFA for the first time. It says it plans to invest billions in AI over the next few years and is working with German car makers.
The excitement around AI is not shared by everyone. Commenting at the fair, one participant said public unease comes from a lack of understanding about how AI works and how people can trust something they cannot see. The challenges are not only technical, the participant added. They also involve human security, privacy and digital data.
The fair has also taken place against a wider debate about AI safety. The technology has faced scrutiny after warnings that rogue AI agents could seize control of the internet or harm humanity. The head of Anthropic called for AI progress to be slowed, and bosses at two rival firms agreed. Many welcomed the rare display of unity, but the debate over how to respond continues. Separately, a helium-filled high-altitude balloon completed a record 30-day continuous flight. It can stay in position for months using solar power by day and battery power by night.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| AI industry leaders, including Anthropic's head and bosses at rival firms, called for AI development to slow down, with some also urging international regulation. | ||
| IFA Berlin is one of the world's biggest technology trade shows and has almost 2,000 exhibitors, with many products claiming to include AI. | · | |
| Robots were prominent at IFA, including the humanoid M1 Zeroth, which can scan a house and patrol it like a security camera. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the consumer gadget show floor at IFA Berlin, using a hands-on, demo-led tone. It highlighted humanoid robots, robot football, wearable AI and smart toys, then balanced the excitement with concerns about privacy, trust and AI safety. It also included a wider tech roundup on warnings from AI leaders and a record balloon flight.
- “If you wanna know what the gadgets of the future are gonna look like, well, this is a pretty good place to start.”
- “This year, that also means robots, lots and lots of robots, pretty much everywhere you look.”
- “The challenges will not only be from a technical side, it will be about the human security itself.”
Broadcast Timeline
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