Lego unveils tech-filled Smart Bricks - to play experts' unease

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete January 6, 2026 at 05:20 PM

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medium article 3 min

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Lego unveiled Smart Bricks, tech-enhanced versions of its classic building blocks, set to launch in March with a new Star Wars set. The Smart Bricks, incorporating sensors, lights, and sound, are designed to react to movement and interaction, forming part of Lego's new Smart Play system. Lego claims this is their most revolutionary innovation in nearly 50 years. However, some play experts have expressed concern that the technology could undermine the imaginative play traditionally associated with Lego. They argue that the appeal of Lego lies in its simplicity and ability to foster creativity without digital enhancements. Lego maintains that the technology expands physical play and seamlessly integrates interactivity with its products.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

University of Edinburgh 40% Fairplay 50% BBC ×250% Andrew Manches 60% Las Vegas 60% Julia Goldin 60% Shiona McCallum 60% Liv McMahon 60% Emma Calder 60% Josh Golin 70% Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 70% Lego ×10100%

Keywords

smart bricks 100% lego 100% smart play system 80% digital play 70% physical play 70% children's imagination 60% sensors 50% electronic components 50% consumer electronics show 40% technology 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

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BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Las Vegas

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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smart bricks lego smart play system digital play physical play children's imagination sensors electronic components consumer electronics show technology

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