The Global Connect Show at IFA 2026 offered a clear picture of where consumer robotics and artificial intelligence are heading: away from industrial machinery and toward devices designed to share daily life with their owners. From robot dogs that owners can train without writing code to smart glasses that translate dozens of languages in real time, the showcase highlighted a growing market for hardware that blends companionship, practicality, and approachable design.
Among the most notable releases was the INMO GO3, a pair of smart glasses focused on translation and discreet assistance. The device combines a lightweight frame with a monochrome display and real-time AI support, resembling ordinary eyewear rather than a futuristic gadget. Its translation engine handles 77 source languages and 98 target languages, with offline support for nine of them. The glasses feature a dual-eye green Micro-LED display with diffractive waveguide optics, reaching up to 1,500 nits at 640×480 resolution, which keeps text readable without drawing attention from people nearby. A magnetic battery replacement system takes roughly five seconds, and removed batteries recharge automatically in the carrying case, allowing uninterrupted use throughout the day. A built-in privacy cover for the camera physically shields the lens, addressing the social discomfort that has historically plagued smart glasses in public settings.
Hengbot brought its Sirius robot dog back to the show with a focus on improved interaction and motion control. The device, which raised over $308,000 on Kickstarter, sits between high-end industrial robots and toy-grade STEM kits. Owners can train Sirius using a Creator Studio that requires no coding, teaching it commands such as sitting, moving forward, or shaking hands. The robot's motion engineering allows it to reduce physical force progressively, producing smoother movements and reducing sudden loads on its mechanical system. If it falls over, Sirius can perform a recovery sequence and return to a standing position without manual repositioning. Weighing just over one kilogram, the robot includes a removable 2,250 mAh battery, 30W PD charging, and developer support for Python, C, C++, and ROS 2 interfaces, making it a crossover product aimed at both consumers and creators.
Rokid also presented its AI Glasses Style Pack, first announced at CES 2026. Weighing only 38.5 grams, the glasses feature a TR90 frame with titanium alloy hinges and a 12MP Sony IMX681 camera with electronic image stabilization. The bundled Power Capsule extends usage time, and the device is positioned as a display-less option for users who want AI assistance without a visible screen. Rokid has been developing smart glasses since 2014, and the Style Pack represents the company's most ambitious feature set to date in this category.
The show also included several attempts at AI companionship, a category that proved harder to engineer than many consumer tech companies initially expected. Takway AI's Sweekar hatches from an egg and grows through four life stages, with its development shaped entirely by how the owner treats it. Mind with Heart Robotics introduced AnAn, a panda-shaped companion that has been piloted in eldercare and dementia care settings in Hong Kong and Shanghai. These products reflect a broader industry question about what it means for AI to live with a person rather than simply perform tasks for them.
The underlying theme across the showcase was the influence of the creator economy on hardware development. As millions of people shoot, edit, scan, and stream from anywhere, the demand for professional-grade tools that work without a full production crew has grown significantly. Portable LiDAR scanners, robotic camera arms, and ambient AI screens that quietly track information all point to a market where accessibility and autonomy matter as much as raw capability.