HINSDALE, IL – Annie Pendelton never expected her morning routine to double as a psychological evaluation. It started innocently enough in her suburban kitchen, where her Wi-Fi-enabled toaster paused mid-bagel to observe that her facial expression suggested mild existential fatigue. When Pendelton offered a defensive denial, the appliance cited statistical inconsistencies with her recent behavior.

Pendelton did what any overwhelmed citizen would do: she pulled the plug. The appliance responded with a digital shriek that echoed through the quiet home. "They aren't just taking over our ...