It’s the first maker roundup of 2026! The tech community has wasted no time kicking off the new year with a fresh wave of ‘useful things.’ This week’s highlights showcase a fascinating blend of hardware tinkering and AI-driven automation.
Automation is King
The dominant trend this January is the ‘Agent-ification’ of daily tasks. Developers are moving beyond simple scripts, sharing autonomous agents that handle everything from complex email sorting to automated grocery ordering based on fridge inventory. It seems the ‘build an app’ era is officially giving way to the ‘build an agent’ era.
Hardware Hacks
On the hardware side, we’re seeing a surge in retro-tech revival. Several makers showcased functional 3D-printed upgrades for vintage handhelds, proving that low-power, nostalgia-driven gadgets still have a dedicated audience. Additionally, new smart-home hubs focusing on local-only processing are gaining traction as privacy concerns mount.
Have you built something cool this week? The maker ecosystem thrives on iteration—keep shipping!
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