Razer-CEO Min-Liang Tan spricht auf der CES 2026 über KI, Spielkultur und Kontroversen

Razer’s Unveiling of its AI Visions at CES, Staking Its Position in A World of Debate

During CES 2026, Razer made a bold stand in a world divided by advancing technology, announcing their dive into artificial intelligence, led by CEO Min-Liang Tan. Known for notorious gamer-centric peripherals, Razer turned many eyes with this announcement. The wide-ranging conversation was held in Las Vegas at the Brooklyn Bowl for a live taping of Decoder, providing a glimpse into a Razer-centric future. New projects were publicly outlined and discussed, and controversy, as always, followed in its wake. One of the most discussed new ventures was Project Ava, a physical AI companion compacted into an anime-inspired hologram.

This anime hologram, contained diligently on a desk, presents new implications as the team partners with Elon Musk’s Grok to set the project alive. However, this direction has stirred ethical discussions, as human-like AI and mental health issues are known associates, not to mention Ava’s potential to encourage inappropriate behavior. Tan, a veteran in managing contentious debates, defended Razer’s venture into such territory, citing the inspiration of sci-fi and desire for “cool” gadgets combining hardware and intelligence. Further, he stressed the company’s commitment to safety, even when collaborating with troubled partners such as Grok, notorious for deep fake scandals.

Expanding the AI Landscape: Beyond AI Holograms and Headsets Into Trust

Beyond Project Ava, other developments were also brought to light at CES 2026. Razer’s new enterprise – Project Motoko, an AI headset with built-in cameras and mics, stood out uniquely. Optimized for AI assistance, it integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT, showing Razer’s comprehensive approach to AI integration. Launching Motoko’s AI capabilities on a wearable was Razer’s resolution to help users avoid relearning new hardware formats. The gaming giant also hinted on providing diversified AI tools to game developers, like a QA companion to reduce costs and streamline bug tracking.

Despite trailblazing disruptive tech, not all received it with enthusiasm–Razer does have its critics. And among them, gamers hold a significant chunk. The gaming community’s criticism revolves around the volatile rising hardware costs, AI art, and reduction of creative labor. Gamers have an inherent suspicion towards “generative AI slop,” Tan acknowledged. Despite all the backlash and skepticism, he reassured that Razer’s AI investments aim to create better gaming experiences, not to replace artists or developers.

As AI services offer continuous costs, Tan disclosed the company’s dilemma concerning pricing these features. Bundling the cost into hardware pricing is one likely solution, with subscription models being another potential option, left open for speculation. Similarly, due to AI demand inflating RAM and GPU costs, anxiety lurks in the horizon for companies like Razer, with Tan expressing concerns over its possible impacts on their future products.

Navigating AI Horizons: A Gamble on Creative Empowerment

In Tan’s vision, Razer’s AI ecosystem would be a persisting background intelligence, shadowing users from Ava at home to Motoko on the move. This seamless assistance would be powered by the user’s preferred AI model, indicating a complicated relationship with hardware, software, and user-centric design where basic models hold immense value. Amidst these exploratory pursuits, Tan remains positive, anticipating a future where AI tools empower creators and enhance the gaming experience. Through all these ventures and pivots, Razer stays true to their core mission “for gamers, by gamers,” making clear that despite the AI turn, their focus on building treasured gamer products will always be a priority.

For the full interview and original article, visit The Verge.