The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features AI smart binoculars designed by Marc Newson. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, sports optics brand Swarovski Optik unveiled its AX Visio Binoculars by industrial designer Newson. The binoculars are equipped with artificial intelligence, which allows them to identify bird and animal species.

Commenters were sceptical about the design. One asked, "Doesn't this ruin the fun of bird-watching?", noting that it takes away the challenge of "learning to recognise birds.'" Another loved the "cool" design, however, describing it as a "real-life Pokedéx".

Other stories in this week's newsletter that fired up the comments section included a pair of spiky high-rise towers by BIG nearing completion in Copenhagen, Tadao Ando's plans for a luxury residential complex in Dubai and a prototype trainer that is 3D-printed from compostable materials created by shoe brand Vivobarefoot and material science company Balena.

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Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.

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