Lego has unveiled “Smart Bricks”—electronic versions of its classic building blocks designed to bring sets to life with sound, light, and motion.
The company hails the new Smart Play system, announced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, as its “most revolutionary innovation” in nearly 50 years.
The tech-infused components, set to launch in March with a new Star Wars line, allow models to react to their environment.
However, the move has drawn a mixed reaction from child development and play experts, who warn it risks undermining the very qualities—tactility, simplicity, and open-ended creativity—that have long distinguished Lego in an increasingly digital play landscape.
Critics argue that by integrating predefined digital reactions, the product could shift play from imagination-driven construction toward more passive, screen-like interaction.
