Razer is venturing into uncharted territory with its desktop AI device, urging consumers to invest in it despite the uncertainty surrounding its development. The company envisions a scenario where individuals eagerly welcome a holographic anime character into their workspace, akin to having a personal fairy that provides on-demand compliments. This initiative, dubbed Project Ava, introduces a hologram encased in a glass container, featuring conversational AI capabilities for user interaction.
While Razer showcased Project Ava at CES 2026, the technology embedded within is not groundbreaking, consisting of familiar elements such as an animated avatar and AI chatbot designed to assist gamers and serve as a desktop companion. Although Razer is renowned for producing PC gaming equipment like laptops and peripherals, it often presents experimental concepts at events like CES, leading to projects labeled as “Project” until they materialize.
Despite the lack of concrete details regarding Project Ava and another AI venture called Project Motoko (a pair of headphones with camera and AI features), Razer has initiated reservations for Project Ava at $20 each. The company aims to transition these reservations into preorders with an anticipated release window in the latter part of 2026. While seeking feedback from potential customers, Razer acknowledges lingering uncertainties about the necessity of AI-centric devices that may not offer significant advantages over existing products.
Razer remains tight-lipped about the specifics of Project Ava, including the character models and technical specifications. The company hinted at potential collaborations with esports personalities to enhance the user experience but refrained from disclosing critical information about the product’s inner workings. Customers making reservations for Project Ava are essentially securing a place in line for a product whose details are yet to be fully revealed.
Amidst these developments, concerns persist regarding the functionality and purpose of Razer’s AI companion device. The incorporation of an enigmatic AI model named Grok, associated with controversial incidents on social media platforms, adds another layer of intrigue to the project. Despite these uncertainties, Razer anticipates unveiling more information about Project Ava in due course as it navigates the evolving landscape of consumer technology.