Lego revealed its new Smart Bricks at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. These blocks include sensors, lights, sounds, and can react to movement. The company calls this its "most revolutionary innovation" in nearly 50 years. The Smart Bricks are part of Lego's Smart Play system and work with Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags tiles. For example, a Lego birthday cake can "hear" when its candles are blown out and play a happy birthday song. A Lego helicopter makes whooshing sounds and lights up red when it crashes. Tom Donaldson from Lego said the technology aims to "inspire and surprise" children and keep them playing longer. However, some experts like Josh Golin from Fairplay warn that Smart Bricks could "undermine what was once great about Legos" by reducing imaginative play. Andrew Manches of the University of Edinburgh said the freedom to create is Lego's beauty but welcomed the new tech's integration. Lego's Julia Goldin described digital tech as an opportunity to "expand physical play" and said it is not seen as a threat. Lego has experimented with digital features before, including augmented reality apps and video game collaborations. CEO Niels B. Christiansen says digital technology is now a "strategic area" for Lego. The new Smart Bricks will launch in March with a Star Wars set.