Most of the tech we saw at CES 2022 was harmless and friendly, but lurking beneath the show's glossy surface were some ideas that sent shivers down our spine: autonomous tractors, seemingly friendly T-800 robots, and bears that nibble on your fingertips.
Okay, maybe we're being a bit harsh on Amagami Ham Ham, but like everything else in this list it ticked one important box: given the right director, it could easily be star of a chilling horror movie.
A big theme of CES 2022 has been tech that watches you sleep, including a worryingly intelligent anti-snore pillow and smart light bulbs, so those have made our list despite their undoubted plus points.
Throw in over-engineered air purifying masks, breathing PC cases and, yes, more creepy humanoid robots, and you have a strong supporting cast for a new David Cronenberg flick. So grab some popcorn and peruse our list of the scariest tech ideas of CES 2022 – and if this gets you in the mood, head on over to our guide to the best new horror movies of 2022 .
John Deere autonomous tractor
If James Cameron were to remake the opening sequence from Terminator, we might see this autonomous John Deere tractor rumbling over the skeletal remains of human civilization. Of course, the 8R tractor has been built with the perfectly sensible aim of helping farmers till their soil more efficiently, but there's still something chilling about seeing this agricultural beast lumbering towards you without anyone at the wheel.
Heightening our fears is the fact that the 8R tractor uses artificial intelligence, plus six pairs of stereo cameras, to drive itself around. But the good news is that farmers can control the tractor with a smartphone app, and that the machine's ability to analyze the soil it tills should be able to give farmers some handy pointers on how to manage their land and crops more efficiently.
Ameca robot
Lurking on the fringes of the uncanny valley is Ameca, a close relative of Sonny from I, Robot and an emotionally expressive mechanoid with a slightly sickly smile. Built by Engineered Arts, the UK's leading maker of entertainment robots, it made its first public appearance at CES 2022 and is designed to welcome visitors to events or attraction. But is it just biding its time before launching a presidential campaign?
Ameca is certainly smart, boasting artificial intelligence and cameras in each of its eyes that allow it to respond to your movements and track faces. Fortunately, the robot can't yet walk, which makes slightly easier to run from a Boston Dynamics Spot. And given Ameca appears to live in a state that's somewhere between wonder and bafflement, we reckon we'd be able to distract it with a fidget spinner.
Razer Zephyr Pro
If last year's Razer Zephyr mask wasn't quite intimidating enough for you, the company has made an even more over-engineered version with built-in voice amplification, called the Zephyr Pro. It's perhaps the ideal post-apocalyptic accessory for our troubled times, if one that's not exactly ideal for collecting your kid from pre-school.
To be fair to Razer, the Zephyr Pro is good for a lot more than Bane cosplay, thanks to its replaceable N95-grade filters and speaker grilles for projecting your voice at 60 decibels, from a range of one meter. It's also made from recycled materials and the optional RGB lights tell you when to replace your filters. There's no release date yet, but it'll arrive sometime in 2022 for $149.
Ten Minds Motion Pillow
The seemingly innocuous Motion Pillow is filled with little airbags that gently nudge your head into a better position for nighttime breathing. But what happens when it decides to end your snoring... permanently? Perhaps it's our imagination running away with us, but a pillow that can watches you sleep and moves itself around is potentially the stuff of, well, nightmares.
Fortunately, the reality of the Motion Pillow is, for now, more humdrum and useful. Its AI Motion System detects your snoring, locates your head position, then slowly moves your sideways to help open your airways. Assuming this doesn't wake you up, it'll also present your much-improved sleeping stats when you rejoin the real world, ready for a morning nibble from your Amagami Ham Ham...
Amagami Ham Ham
Yes, this adorable stuffed robot looks cute, particularly when you discover that it's designed to comfort you by gently nibbling on your finger. But what happens when Amagami Ham Ham goes full Gremlin and decides it'd like one of your digits for breakfast? The fact that this isn't technically possible doesn't mean our minds haven't turned one of CES 2022's most heartwarming launches into a comedy horror scene.
Thankfully, 'Amagami' is Japanese for "soft biting" rather than "fingertip guillotine", and its maker Yukai Engineering has even coded an algorithm that serves up two-dozen nibbling styles for the tips of your fingers. You'll be able to buy it in Calico Cat and Shuba Inu designs for around $40 this year.
Owo Game haptic vest
What better way to unwind after a hard day at the office than by donning a vest that simulates severe abdominal wounds, insect bites, dagger stabs and being struck by an axe? That's the utopian dream envisioned by the Owo Game haptic vest, which works with games on mobile, PC, console and VR platforms to bring an added dose of uncomfortable realism.
Thankfully, the sensations the vest delivers aren't all near-death experiences, with the Owo Game also promising to recreate the thrill of driving at 100mph or free-falling (towards a very large trampoline, hopefully). You can also adjust the intensity of each sensation, to make sure it stays on the right side of enjoyable. There's no confirmed launch date for the Owo yet, but you can register your interest on the official site .
CyberPowerPC Kinetic case
There's something unnerving about tech that looks like it's breathing, and that's the effect created by CyberPowerPC's Kinetic case. Rather than sighing when you've just spent another nine hours on Microsoft Flight Simulator, the case's 18 mechanical vents are designed to automatically open and close when it needs more air.
As CyberPowerPC’s Nam Hoang explained in a preview video for the Kinetic series, the aim was to create a case that's more than just a box with holes. The design was apparently inspired by the kinetic architecture in buildings like the Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi – and now we're past our reflexive phobia of breathing gadgets, we have to admit it's beguilingly beautiful.
Hyundai's 'digital twins'
The prize for the most unintentionally disturbing vision of the future at CES 2022 goes to Hyundai, for its musings on the metaverse and robots. Like a cross between David Gelernter's Mirror Worlds and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, Hyundai's presentation revolved around the concept of 'digital twins', an idea that sci-fi hasn't exactly depicted in glowing terms.
In Hyundai's vision, robots are effectively our proxies, acting as our eyes and ears, or even allowing us to hug family from another continent while we're away with work. The company even went as far as depicting people visiting Mars with their pet Boston Dynamic robots, which themselves tread a fine line between awesome and terrifying. The advantages of 'metamobility', where physical limitations are no longer a barrier for anyone, are certainly exciting, but it's hard not to think of the dystopian downsides when you've been weaned on Blade Runner and The Matrix.
Beonmi robot
Taking HyundaI' concept of 'digital twins' and turning it into a mildly disturbing reality is the Beonmi 1.0 robot, which will apparently evolve over time from human-piloted to a fully autonomous humanoid.
It's Beonmi's somewhat intense 'concentration' face that had us initially a little spooked, but the robot does also smile and is apparently happy to work in a huge range of fields, including agriculture, logistics, and eventually space construction. We're happy to give Beonmi the benefit of the doubt for now – until it applies for a job on TechRadar, at least.
Apple MR headset could be as powerful as a MacBook Pro – but only for short bursts
Analysts predict that Apple’s MR headset will have the same computing power as the MacBook Pro – even if other reports suggest you’ll only be able to use it for brief periods of time.
The speculation surrounding the mixed reality headset’s processing power comes from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via AppleInsider ). He predicts the Apple headset will likely have the same M1 chip and similar computing power as the MacBook Pro , given the Apple MR headset reportedly requires the same 96W charger as the premium laptop.
Unfortunately, though, this impressive power may come with limitations, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman cites multiple sources in saying that the Apple headset is designed to be used only in short bursts.
We doubt Apple would impose digital time-outs on its customers to lock them out of the headset, so it’s more likely due to the company intentionally installing a small battery to force users back into the real world periodically.
Given that previous rumors have indicated Apple wants the headset to weigh less than 150g – the Oculus Quest 2 weighs 500g by comparison – but also wants it to perform premium mixed-reality functions, reducing the battery’s size will be a necessary step to keep weight down.
As with all leaks, we have to take this new information with a pinch of salt, but these latest reports do create consistent image of what we should expect from an Apple AR device – and we’re not fans of what we’re hearing.
Analysis: Stiff competition from Meta
Apple’s premium MR headset will face some stiff competition when it enters the market.
The biggest name in the game currently is the Oculus Quest 2 , a juggernaut of a VR headset from Meta that has sold over 10 million units worldwide.
The main draw of the Quest 2 is its reasonable price – you can pick one up for just £299 / $299 / AU$479 – and it there are a plethora of great Quest 2 games you can enjoy for sessions up to about four hours (which is more than enough right now).
The Quest Store’s game list includes excellent exclusives such as Resident Evil 4 VR and The Climb – and by the time Apple’s headset launches we might also be playing GTA: San Andres VR too.
Apple’s headset, on the other hand, is expected to cost significantly more with a price tag of around $3,000 / £2,200, AU$3,900.
The rumored M1 chip would make it run significantly faster than the Quest 2, and the mixed reality features – which would allow it to move between augmented reality and virtual reality experiences – could help it stand out.
Despite this, we’re not sure those outside of Apple’s diehard fans will be that interested. We suspect this device will live or die based on the software released alongside it – something we know very little about right now.
Gamers and those looking for remote working options can turn to awesome apps on the Quest 2; Apple will need to supply exceptional alternatives if it wants to encourage people to spend 10 times what they’d spend on Meta’s headset.
Additionally, we’ll need to see what Meta (formerly Facebook) does with its Project Cambria headset which is expected to launch this year. Cambria is being marketed as a premium wireless VR headset and is likely to be seen as a direct competitor to the mixed reality Apple device.
Cambria comes with an early advantage, thanks to the Quest Store library of software. If it can position itself as a more useful and cheaper alternative – aiming for a $1,500 / £1,100 / AU$2,100 price tag or less – then Apple’s device would have even fewer reasons to exist.
Then there's the Oculus Quest 3 that is expected to launch next year – and that's aside from PC-VR competitors like the Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro that already offer high-end VR at a premium price.
We'll have to wait and see how Apple's MR headset fares this year, but we're not confident it'll go the distance – by this time in 2023 we should know if we're right.
Andrew Garfield wants to return as Spider-Man – but will he?
Major spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home follow. You have been warned.
Spider-Man: No Way Home, the latest superhero movie to dominate the global box office, has potentially brought the curtain down on Tom Holland's incarnation of the iconic webslinger.
But, while the 27th Marvel movie may have called time on Holland's Spider-Man career, another of the actors who portrayed the wallcrawler in a live-action film may see their franchise revived off the back of No Way Home's success.
We're entering full spoiler territory for Spider-Man: No Way Home from this point on. If you haven't caught the latest Marvel Phase 4 movie, don't scroll past the image below.
If you've seen No Way Home , you'll know that the rumors are true: former Spider-Man stars Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield return to help Holland's Peter Parker defeat a myriad of the webslinger's villains and stop the Marvel Cinematic Universe from becoming the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.
Naturally, Spider-Man fans (and superhero aficionados in general) were delighted to see Maguire and Garfield reprise their roles as the wallcrawler. And, such has been the fan fervour over the duo returning, fans have started campaigning on social media for their Spider-Man film franchises to be revived – with hashtags including #MakeTASM3 , #TheAmazingSpiderMan 3 and #MakeRaimiSpiderMan4 doing the rounds online since No Way Home's release.
While Maguire's Spider-Man trilogy has a loyal following, though, it's Garfield's webslinger who fans really want to see more of. The Tick, Tick... Boom! actor's Spider-Man movie series was cut short after the disappointing and overstuffed Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie. But, off the back of his scene-stealing turn in No Way Home, Spidey fanatics want him to don the iconic red and blue suit on a more regular basis again.
In a Variety profile piece ahead of the 2022 Golden Globes ceremony – Garfield is up for two awards for his leading role in Netflix's Tick, Tick... Boom! – Garfield was asked if he'd be open to reprising his role as Spider-Man in the future. Unsurprisingly, he was unequivocal in his response.
"I mean, yes, definitely open to something if it felt right," Garfield said. "Peter and Spider-Man, those characters are all about service, to the greater good and the many. He’s a working-class boy from Queens that knows struggle and loss and is deeply empathetic. I would try to borrow Peter Parker’s ethical framework in that, if there was an opportunity to step back in and tell more of that story, I would have to feel very sure and certain in myself."
With Garfield's Spider-Man trilogy cut short by a combination of poor critical reception, and Marvel and Sony teaming up to bring the superhero to the MCU, the actor's potential return as the webslinger would make for fascinating viewing.
Despite The Amazing Spider-Man film series being the weakest of the three so far, Garfield's turn as Peter Parker/Spider-Man was electrifying; the actor brought a real emotional depth to a character, whose themes of guilt, identity, sacrifice, power and taking responsibility have resonated with comic fans for decades.
Garfield's Spider-Man also received some long-overdue closure as part of No Way Home's plot – with the actor telling Variety that "I’m just really, really grateful that I got to tie up some loose ends for the Peter that I was playing". But, with Garfield and Spidey fans alike wanting him to reprise the role he inhabited between 2012 and 2014, is a more permanent return on the cards?
On the surface, judging by Garfield's comments on getting some closure for his Spider-Man incarnation, it seems unlikely. No Way Home provides Garfield's webslinger with the happy ending that he required. And, with Marvel and Sony pressing ahead with a potential fourth Spidey MCU movie starring Tom Holland, it's doubtful that both studios will want two Spider-Man film series running alongside one another. After all, fans may get confused about which Spidey exists in which universe, their respective villains and other story elements.
But never say never. Garfield clearly loved his time as Spider-Man, and his iteration is certainly one that we'd like to see again.
And we may well get our wish. According to prominent Marvel movie leaker MyTimeToShineHello, there are "other options" on " multiple projects " available to Garfield to return as Spider-Man in the future, either as a solo project or in a cameo/supporting role capacity.
One possibility that would set fans' tongues wagging may be a Spider-Man vs Venom movie. During one of No Way Home's post-credits scenes, Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock/Venom was pulled back into his own universe after he was pulled into the MCU at the end of Venom: Let There Be Carnage? The reason? Holland's Spider-Man and Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange botching a magical spell in No Way Home that almost led to the multiverse colliding with the MCU.
Some fans had hoped that Hardy's Venom would take on Holland's webslinger at some point, but that appears to be a non-starter now. Instead, though, could Hardy's Venom cross paths with Garfield's Spider-Man? If they did, it would provide both characters with a third instalment in their respective movies series. Sony and Marvel could even go with a title like 'The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. Venom', rather than 'The Amazing Spider-Man 3' or 'Venom 3', in the same vein as DCEU flick 'Batman Vs. Superman'.
According to another Marvel Studios leaker in DanielRPK , that's a distinct possibility, too. While DanielRPK doesn't state which version of Spider-Man may fight Venom in the latter's third solo film, it would be very cool if it was Garfield's version.
So, will Garfield's Spider-Man return to the big screen? Not officially just yet (if at all), but we'd love to see it happen. A fair number of rumors from MyTimeToShineHello and DanielRPK have proven to be correct in the past, too, so there's every chance that some discussions have taken place about Garfield's return. We'd be delighted if he did, and we're sure the actor would be as well, but time will tell if his and our hopes become reality.