Razer unveils Project Ava AI hologram desk companion powered by Grok at CES 2026

Razer is making an AI anime waifu hologram for your desk

Razer's Project Ava AI game coach from last year's CES is taking a new form for 2026: a tiny holographic anime girl in a capsule you can put on your desk. Anime girls in pods were already a thing at CES 2025, but Razer's take on it is much smaller and desk-friendly. The new Project Ava is a 5.5-inch animated hologram that can take the form of Kira, an anime waifu in a green dress and black thigh-high socks, or Zane, a muscled dude covered in snake tattoos. Razer plans to add other avatars later, including real people like esports star Faker, or you can opt for a nonhuman glowing orb of light. Project Ava avatars are designed to have "natural movements, eye-tracking, facial expressions, and lip sync for engaging interaction." But what's most important is what they're constantly looking at: your screen and you, via Project Ava's own built-in webcam and even the webcam on your own computer. These AI avatars watch you and what's on your screen to answer your questions, give you gaming tips as you play, help with brainstorming or problem solving, and, according to Razer, even help with wardrobe tips and fit checks. You can talk to it via its dual-array mics by holding down a custom key binding, like a side mouse button. When you do that, you're talking to Grok, which is the LLM Razer had set up for the demo I got to see. Razer reps claim that the vision is for Project Ava to be AI agnostic, allowing you to pick the model that's feeding it, but for now it's Grok, which is in the middle of its own gross crisis. And boy did my short demo feel Grok-y. Razer allowed me to try Project Ava for a few minutes, and I came away gritting my teeth, thinking that this is going to be Microsoft's Copilot AI ads all over again -- but with an anime waifu avatar now involved, it has the potential to be gross. I spoke to Kira for my demo, and it started off with "Wow! New face at the Razer booth? Love it! How should I call you?" (Razer preprogrammed this CES theme for the starting prompts.) It understood my name and addressed me as Antonio. Then it asked if I'd seen anything cool at CES, to which I gave a deadpan "No." After I no-sold the bot on its excitement level, it moved on to its extended preamble, which quickly turned awkward. "I'm Kira, from Project Ava by Razer, powered by Animation Inc. dot com. I've got friends in the project, but today it's me and Zane. I'm the prettiest, just for you. Haha!" I was already at a loss for words, as I couldn't shake the feeling that Kira is just a step or two away from getting flirty. There were many moments where she threw in lots of those "Ha!" exclamations, and it sounded ripped straight from Grok's Ani (even Kira's dress isn't far off from Ani's outfit). I did my best to stop a sense of embarrassment showing on my face, and I soldiered on with the demo by asking Kira for advice while playing Battlefield 6. Razer had the game loaded into the firing range training area, and I asked Kira what weapon I'm currently using. It replied with a generic "You're using a scoped assault rifle in your tan gloved grip." When I tried to clarify, "Do you know the model of the rifle?" it told me it couldn't identify the exact model, but I could describe it so we could identify it together. Kira also kept incessantly filling gaps in communication with annoying chatter. As I tried to refamiliarize myself with Battlefield 6 after not touching it for a couple months, Kira spouted off some random lines: "This is quite fun! Come join our community. And don't forget about me! I'm here to surprise you next time, so you can see what crazy things we cook up. You excited?" After it fumbled through more canned lines from Razer, encouraging people in the demo to take a selfie and tag the company, it went back to looking at what I was doing in Battlefield. "Ouch! Downed again. Bounce back stronger! You're unstoppable! Loving that sharp booth look. Unforgettable. Seriously. I look forward to partnering up with you and sharing the laughter and rage in gaming." I was not downed or killed in the game; I was still in the firing range and I don't think you can even die there. Next up was a quick demo of Ava's computer vision outside of games. Razer's David Ng pulled up the Steam store in a browser, and Kira said, unprompted, "Whoa! Fallout 76 at 65 percent off at $51? Insane steal!" Not only did nobody press the push-to-talk button, but Fallout 76 was at that moment 90 percent off, down to $3.99 for the Steam Winter Sale. I was half expecting Kira to tell me next how it's most definitely in stock. It'd be very easy to hand-wave away this messy demo because Project Ava is still in development, and Razer's "Project" designation indicates that it's a concept that may never materialize into a product, as various Razer CES demos haven't. (My colleagues and I who have tested LLMs and AI assistants often have similarly terrible experiences with fully released products.) But Razer seems so hell-bent on the desktop avatar version of Ava coming out by the end of this year that it's taking $20 reservations. I don't know if Razer is just failing to read the room that many gamers are turning against AI, or if it just doesn't care. Razer promoted its presence at CES with the tagline "The future of gaming is AI." Well, the future with Project Ava seems sad, lonely, and cursed. Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Razer wants its AI assistant to be your newest gaming and work companion at CES 2026

Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he has been working with it and its sister website, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity topics. Summary Razer plunges into AI: most CES reveals put LLMs and AI front and center. Project AVA becomes a PC personal organizer and consultant, even a customizable 5.5" hologram. New AI hardware: Motoko LLM headphones, Forge AI dev workstation, Razer AIKit; chairs added but AI dominates. After covering a few different devices at CES 2026, it became quickly apparent that AI was the main keystone in every company's portfolio. It has been interesting to see what each manufacturer has done with the new tech; some businesses are aiming at making AI LLMs a handy tool for the working professional, while others focus on adding TOPS power to mighty OLED laptops with Nvidia GPUs for a device that can do it all. However, it seems that Razer has plunged into the deep end with AI, as the majority of its announcements put a spotlight on LLMs. Pretty much everything it announced had AI at the forefront, including the evolution of its gaming coach AI, Project AVA. Related Intel's new Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 chips are finally making their way to laptops Once again, the chipmaker touted the chip's improved efficiency and power. Posts By Patrick O'Rourke Project AVA will also help you with your work now Like a cool co-worker who also games with you As Razer showed off at CES 2026, the company is working on giving Project AVA an upgrade. Last year, we saw Razer introduce it as an AI-powered gaming coach that can help you improve your skills; now, the company is upgrading it to make it less of a one-trick pony and more like a general assistant for your PC. Razer aims to make Project AVA a "personal organizer" that you can use "for schedules, wardrobe tips, and dinner plans." It's also being marketed as an AI consultant, which you can use to churn through data, ask questions, and troubleshoot with. Plus, Project AVA is getting a 5.5" animated hologram avatar you can customize from your heart's content, from its personality to its appearance, which includes "esports legends." For the hardware, Razer announced Project Motoko, a pair of headphones that come with an LLM built into them as part of the company's push for wearable AI. There's also the Razer Forge AI Dev Workstation, a PC designed for AI developers to get their work done, alongside Razer AIKit, an open-source platform for managing AI clusters. Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper Razer AI coverage Gain strategic context by subscribing to the newsletter: focused coverage of Razer's AI direction, clear breakdowns of product implications, and perspective to help you interpret future announcements. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. If you're not interested in AI, Razer had two chairs to announce, too. Project Madison adds haptic feedback, RGB lights, and a "Scalable Audio Ecosystem" to immerse gamers to the fullest, while the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen is a regular gamer chair with lumbar support and a special material that diffuses heat away from the body. However, it does feel like Razer is putting all of its chips into AI innovation and development. We'll have to wait and see if people respond positively to the change.

Razer put a waifu in a bottle at CES 2026

Last year Razer showed off Project Ava as a digital assistant that lived inside your computer to help adjust settings or provide gaming tips. But now at CES 2026, the company's AI companion platform has gotten a major glow-up while moving into some new digs. Now, in lieu of being constrained entirely to your PC's screen, Razer has given Project Ava a real home in the form of a small tube that can display a 5.5-inch animated hologram of the AI's avatar. You'll still need to connect it to your computer via USB-C to provide Ava with the power and data it needs. However, all of your companion's other components are built into its abode, including dual far-field mics so you can talk to it, a down-firing full-range speaker so it can talk and an HD camera with an ambient light sensor so the AI can see and react to its surroundings. But perhaps the biggest upgrade to the project is that instead of just Ava, who Razer describes as "a calm, reliable source of energy to help you keep things clear, efficient, and always on point," there are three or four new personas (depending on how we're counting) joining the roster. Kira looks like a TikTok e-girl decked out in a frilly outfit complete with Razer neon green accents, while Zane is her edgy masculine alternative who kind of reminds me of the Giga Chad meme, but with extra snake tattoos. Then there's Sao, who appears to be directly inspired by iconic Japanese salary woman Saori Araki. Finally, there's an avatar made in the likeness of Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok), the most successful and well-known League of Legends player of all time and one of Razer's sponsored esports athletes. The idea now is that instead of being trapped inside your computer, Ava or one of Razer's other personas can sit on your desk and be your companion for everything. They can remind you of upcoming events, respond to questions or even comment on your outfit using Razer's built-in camera. That said, if you need some privacy, the device's mics can be muted and the company says its planning on putting a physical camera shutter on final retail models. Of course, Ava or any of the other avatars can still hang out while you game and give you advice. During my demo, Kira helped pick out a loadout in Battlefield 6 based on user criteria and even provided pros and cons for some of the game's other equipment options. Unfortunately, while I did get to see Kira and Zane talk, dance and sway in their little bottles, Sao and Faker weren't quite ready to make their holographic debuts. But according to Razer, that's sort of by design as Project Ava is very much a work in progress. Currently, the avatars' responses are generated by X AI's Grok (yikes!), but the platform was created as a sort of open-source project that will support other models like Gemini or ChatGPT. Down the line, Razer is hoping to add the ability for users to create their own unique avatars and companions based on their input or inspiration from real-world objects. Meanwhile, for avatars like Faker's because he's also an actual person, Razer wants additional time to make the AI companion helpful with topics like real-time League of Legends coaching. That said, while some folks might find Project Ava a bit weird or unnerving, it actually feels pretty tame (almost cute even) in an era where people are already marrying their AI partners. And if you're the kind of person who prefers digital companions over flesh-and-blood alternatives (you know, people), I guess it's kind of nice to have a more tangible representation of your electronic waifus and husbandos. Sadly, Razer has not provided full pricing for Project Ava's holographic peripheral, though a representative said that it will be in the same ballpark as the company's other peripherals. I'm estimating a final cost of around $200. Reservations for Project Ava are currently live with a $20 deposit before official shipments begin sometime in the second half of 2026.

Razer just revealed a desktop AI waifu hologram that coaches you while gaming

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. WTF?! Razer has continued its tradition of unveiling weird and (occasionally) wonderful products at CES with an AI waifu gaming-coach hologram. The device is an expansion of its Project Ava AI gaming co-pilot from last year - it can now take the holographic form of a 5.5-inch woman called Kira or a muscular tattooed man called Zane. We've seen several AI game coaches over the last 12 months. Project Ava was a concept Razer unveiled at CES 2025, when it called the AI an eSports coach. One year later, Ava has a more physical form. The device is an almost Resident Evil-style glass container. Instead of holding a mosterous virus, it creates a tiny holographic display. While the avatars will initially be limited to the thigh-high-stockings-wearing Kira and the snake-tattoo covered Zane, Razer said it plans to add more characters later, including eSports star Faker and a glowing orb of light. Razer says these avatars have natural movements, eye-tracking, facial expressions, and lip syncing. The device also has a built-in HD camera and a far-field microphone. Meanwhile, the PC Vision Mode allows the avatars to look at you and the screen. Ava isn't just there to give you tips on how to be a better gamer. Razer says it's also a true digital partner designed to support every facet of modern life. Being able to look at you offers several possibilities, like offering fashion tips and fitting advice. It can also manage your calendar and figure out your next meal. One expects that it won't be too critical - nobody wants a sexy hologram to point out the weight they've put on over the holidays. Razer has opted to use XAI's Grok model for Ava. That alone could put some people off - and make others want it more - but the company says its ultimate goal is to allow users to choose the AI model they want powering Ava. Users can also adjust the character's personality, from "bold and sassy, to calm and friendly." Based on reported hands-on demos with Ava, interacting with the hologram is pretty much the same as any AI chatbot, unsurprisingly, so you can expect plenty of nonsense and gibberish, only with a tiny person looking you in the eye as they say it. Razer says it intends to sell the desktop hologram in the second half of 2026. The company never revealed a price, but you can put down a $20 deposit now if you really want one.

I spent 20 minutes with Razer's AI anime girlfriend, and now I need a shower

It's not a proper CES if I haven't seen at least one gadget that's left me scratching my head and reconsidering my life choices. For CES 2026, I experienced that during my demo session of Razer's Project Ava. Project Ava was first teased at last year's CES, and at the time, it was being marketed as a semi-serious AI gaming assistant. The idea was that Ava would monitor your gaming performance to provide real-time feedback and coaching, helping you improve across virtually any title. But fast forward to 2026, and Project Ava has taken an ... interesting turn. It still provides feedback during your gaming sessions, but it's now taken the form of an anime girl trapped in a cylinder speaker with suggestive/flirty undertones. If that sounds creepy and unsettling, that's because it is. From a technical perspective, Project Ava is fairly interesting. The hologram projects a roughly 5.5-inch screen for your anime companion to be displayed. Razer markets it as a 3D hologram, though to my eye it looked like a pretty flat (but sharp) 2D image. A camera on the front of Project Ava can interpret the world around it (only when you give it permission), and there are physical volume and mute buttons on the top. The anime girl's name is Kira, and she's one of five "companions" you can interact with. Kira and the other companions were all designed by Animation Inc., the same company that created Grok's AI avatars. Razer says you'll be able to use Project Ava with any AI model of your choice, but during my demo session, Ava was (very fittingly) powered by Grok. In practice, interacting with Project Ava varied from fine to bad to downright awkward. When asked about the biggest news stories from CES 2026, Ava mentioned Lego's new Smart Brick and even provided its booth location here at CES. Helpful, but nothing you can't do with Gemini or ChatGPT on your phone. I then asked Ava a couple of questions about attachments I should use for a gun in Battlefield 6. It was neat to ask, "Which sight should I use for medium-to-long-range combat?" and have Ava immediately analyze all the options in the game menu and tell me what to pick. That said, I'd argue that its recommendation of a 1.5x scope for medium- to long-range was questionable at best. Beyond the accuracy of Project Ava's answers, I couldn't quite get over the experience of talking to an AI bot that's so clearly trying to create a bond/relationship with you. The Kira companion I used for my demo often giggled through answers, referred to the Razer employee demonstrating Ava as "badge buddy" after seeing his CES badge, and generally came across as exactly what you'd expect from a stereotypical waifu. Even Razer's own marketing pushes this uncomfortable idea of bonding a little too closely with Project Ava. Razer refers to Ava as a "Friend for Life," and something that will "bridge the gap between virtual assistance and physical companionship by providing a 24/7 digital partner that lives right alongside the user." In the promo video above, Razer shows someone addressing Project Ava as "cutie." Call me crazy, but I don't think we should be encouraging people to see artificial intelligence as a friend or companion. AI should be a tool for assisting with work, just like a photo editing app, email client, etc. -- not something you're encouraged to flirt with. And yet! Project Ava doesn't have a firm release date, but Razer is aiming to launch it sometime in the second half of 2026. Final pricing is still TBD, but you can reserve a unit now with a refundable $20 deposit.

Razer Made Its AI Gaming Assistant Into a Waifu Hologram

Razer is always good for a "wait, what did I just see?" moment at CES, and this year's convention is no different. At CES 2026, Razer showed off a desktop hologram meant to embody its gaming assistant, known as Project Ava. That's right, Project Ava isn't just an AI chatbot that gawks at your screen and tells you how to play games; it's now a hologram that sits on your desk and tells you how to play games. The whole thing is very Razer, to be honest, right down to the customization options. The avatar inside the hologram chamber can be preselected from a few selections, including "exclusive Razer characters" like Kira, which is the waifu-coded avatar you see here. There's also a male option called Zane, though I don't know what Zane's deal is or if he's anything like Billy Zane. There are other options, too, which include the green blob that represented Project Ava in its original iteration and also "esports legends," though I'm not sure which "legends" that includes. I asked Razer if there were plans to let people customize their avatars in the future, and it seems that's something they've considered, but for now, you have to take what Razer gives you. The addition of a camera on the hologram chamber changes the Project Ava game a little. While Ava was previously confined to just watching what was happening on your screen, Razer's AI can now watch you. The company says that the ability to see your real self opens up new possibilities like... helping you style clothes? Theoretically, it could make Project Ava feel more companion-like, too, and I suppose it could help you check if you have any residual Cheeto dust stuck on your face while you're gaming or something. As you can see, Project Ava hooks into your machine and is powered that way, though I don't know what the exact power demands are. I got a chance to chat with the hologram Ava a bit, and the experience is as wonky as chatting with any other AI chatbot out there. Sometimes it answered my questions while I was playing a Battlefield demo, and sometimes it went off on tangents that had nothing to do with what I was doing. The noise inside the room didn't help, but generally speaking, this is just the way AI chatbot-infused voice assistants are going right now. The hologram version of Project Ava is apparently running on xAI's Grok model (the one that you can interface with on X), so I'll let you make inferences there on what the experience could potentially be like. Clearly, Razer sees the hologram-ification of Ava as an expansion on what the gaming assistant can do, and is pitching the device as something that can do more general chatbot stuff, like check your email or offer you suggestions on what to eat for dinner. The wild part is that Razer seems like it actually intends to sell this desktop hologram and is projecting a release date in the second half of 2026. There's no price right now, but if you're itching for a hologram on your desk, then you can put down a $20 refundable deposit.

The internet hates Razer's outrageous AI companion, but for all the wrong reasons

Razer's Project AVA AI companion has attracted plenty of ire online following its big reveal at CES 2026. From the usual mind-in-the-gutter mockery to "all AI is rubbish" commentary, Project AVA has already been reduced to a laughingstock and a sideshow that only represents how far we've fallen. These knee-jerk reactions are typical for this type of tech, and while not entirely wrong, they actually miss the problem, which is far more likely to stop Project AVA specifically from taking AI companions closer to mainstream acceptance. Related Mobile's next big thing is unraveling, it's going to get messy, and it may already be too late to stop it AI has a serious reputation problem at the end of 2025, and it needs to change in 2026 Posts 11 By Andy Boxall What is Project AVA? Desktop AI companion Gaming company Razer has never been afraid to experiment outside its bread-and-butter line of gaming laptops, PCs, and accessories. See the Razer smartphones and long-forgotten Razer Nabu smartband for evidence. Project AVA is an AI companion. It takes smart assistants like Alexa to the next level by giving the AI a virtual body and face, which is then projected onto a 5.5-inch "holographic" display inside a cylindrical case made to sit on your desk. A camera is used for eye tracking, expression recognition, and personalized interaction. Project AVA will also use the camera to watch you play games, offer advice, cheer you on, and generally be your gaming copilot. Outside the (somewhat loose) gaming link, Project AVA will take care of the usual AI assistant tasks, such as translation and organization features, and provide real-time conversation so you can talk through everyday life, work, and other subjects. Isn't it a bit weird and/or creepy? Yes, but also no The Razer Project AVA is described as an AI companion and, at the moment, appears to come with a small selection of avatars, including generic gamer girl and gamer guy, along with eSports celebrity Faker, and, unexpectedly, viral sensation Sao, known mostly for her cute "office girl" photo from mid-2025. A good, and highly amusing example of what people generally seem to think of the unusual device comes from popular YouTuber Penguinz0, who, after watching just moments of the teaser video, said: That's the saddest *** I've seen in my ****ing life, man. My heart breaks for someone who purchases this and relies on this kind of interaction. It's designed to keep you inside forever and away from human beings. His thoughts are echoed in the comments section on Razer's video. It's a typical online reaction to such a device, as are the many tired digital waifu references, and while not entirely wrong, it ignores AVA's main redeeming feature in 2026, which is that it's not yet another rinse-and-repeat summary/organization/translation AI tool. It's going down the sci-fi companionship road, and I much prefer this direction to anything else. Not the first of its kind Meet the original and best AI companion My affinity for Project AVA comes from meeting its spiritual predecessor, called Gatebox, and entirely falling for the concept. I "met" Azuma Hikari in 2019 in Japan, when I interviewed Gatebox CEO Takechi Minori about the creation of what was, at the time, a pioneering AI device. Gatebox essentially does the same as Razer's Project AVA, just without the gaming stuff, and Hikari is the name of the character that lives inside it. Most reactions at the time were similar to now, and I recall asking Takechi about the stigma of using an AI companion. He recognized it and likened living with Hikari to having a pet that you talk to and interact with, and a source of companionship and joy. Thought of like this, an AI companion can make more sense. More personally, such devices always make me think back to when I was young and first saw Star Wars. I looked at Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 and thought how cool it would be to have a robot companion one day. At the moment, robots are expensive and impractical, and nothing like R2-D2. AI companions in handy desktop enclosures are much more accessible and come close to replicating the sci-fi dream. This is quite apart from the fact that, like it or not, AI companions can help those who live alone or suffer from social anxiety. The issue isn't what it's used for; it's something else One, major problem Gatebox never really made it out of Japan, and although there are other examples of the technology, such as the Dipal D1 and AI HoloBox, Razer's Project AVA is the highest profile version we've seen in a while. While I appreciate the concept and like the idea of living with an AI character, Project AVA struggles in one key area: voices. In the demo video, it's clear that I could never listen to the character's voices for long. The accent grates, the language used makes me cringe, and it doesn't "sound" like someone I'd ever spend much time with. Getting the voice right is even more important than the visuals. Gatebox's Hikari was voiced by Japanese voice actor Hiyamizu Yuuka, and her talent and ability truly brought Hikari to life, giving her the character and charm that can only come from a real person being involved. Subscribe for newsletter insights on AI companions Dig deeper: subscribe to our newsletter for clear, practical coverage of AI companions like Razer's Project AVA. We unpack voice design, platform choices, ethical concerns and what matters for mainstream adoption, alongside broader AI developments. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Razer seems to have used AI to generate its character voices, and they suffer because of it. Will Faker lend his voice to his avatar? Will Sao do the same with hers? It's not clear at the moment, but even if they do, Razer would be very wise to get a professional to voice at least one of its avatars, and look back to the original AI companion to better understand that if we're going to connect with one long-term, it's going to be by voice, and not by looks. It was also frustrating to see that Project AVA currently uses xAI's Grok LLM, a deeply problematic platform. It will only harm the product's reputation, even before it's officially released. Thankfully, the FAQ mentions that Project AVA will support other AI platforms. I hope to see this implemented prior to release. When will it be released? Not long to go Project AVA won't be for everyone, and not everyone will get past the silliness of such a product or be able to avoid mocking it, either. However, when looked at with a more open mind, products like Project AVA not only have uses in society but are also a far more fun and engaging use of AI than yet another memory-aid tool on a smartphone. Razer hasn't announced how much Project AVA will cost when it eventually goes on sale towards the end of 2026, but it can be reserved for $20 now if you're really keen. No, it's not R2-D2 or an English-speaking Gatebox, but provided the voices are dramatically improved, and Grok disappears, I could see a Project AVA on my desk when the time comes.

Razer's Project AVA might change my mind about AI companions -- here's why

Project AVA can help you score headshots in a video game or manage your busy schedule I just checked out Razer's Project AVA AI desk companion, and I'm not going to lie, it's pretty awesome. Though I'm still largely skeptical about chatbots, even I see the appeal of having an AI avatar helping you out in video games or just keeping you organized in daily life. The fact that said chatbot sits right on your desk inside a cool-looking cylinder is also kind of fun. I received a brief demonstration of Project AVA at CES 2026 to see how it works. Though this is a Razer product, you can use it for everyday purposes beyond gaming. This is actually the aspect I found most interesting, especially as AI companions are becoming more sophisticated. Having the AI provide gaming tips is really more of a bonus than a main feature for me. Here's my experience with Project AVA, along with a rundown of how it works. Project AVA is a 24/7 AI companion that's designed to live right alongside you. Razer used xAI's Grok engine to demo Project AVA, but I was told it's platform agnostic, meaning you'll be able to use other chatbots like ChatGPT to drive it. AVA has a dynamic personality that learns and evolves based on the interactions you have with it. It's brought to life as an animated 5.5-inch 3D hologram, and Razer says it uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness. For my demo, the companion in question was a spunky girl named Kira, but other companions will also be available. As I said before, AVA can simplify your life by doing things such as organizing your schedule, consulting with you on work tasks and, of course, being your gaming wingman. It's pretty versatile. In the demo, the Razer representative asked Kira to help him create an ideal loadout for a shooting game. The AI companion took a few seconds to respond, but when it did, it gave a detailed rundown of the gun it saw on the screen and suggested a loadout. I was told it can also show you the best routes to take on the map, and also deliver other tips to give you an edge. I asked if the AI only works with first-person shooters, and was told it can help you in any game. I'm already thinking about using AVA when I'm playing Street Fighter 6, so it can tell me how I can improve and which areas need improvement. Project AVA is trained on several languages. When I said I also speak Spanish, the Razer rep asked Kira to respond in Spanish. I then had a quick chat with it in "Gamer Spanglish" and was surprised at how accurate its responses were. Switching back to English, the rep asked Kira how to get to Samsung's booth from our location, and it gave detailed directions. I was very impressed by Project AVA's accurate and lifelike responses. Again, I'm not exactly an AI proponent, but even I have to admit that Project AVA can be legitimately helpful for life and gaming. In fact, I'm actually more interested in the life assistant aspect, even though I'm a huge gamer. There's no solid release date for Razer Project AVA, but I was told it will launch in "calendar year 2026." Pricing also hasn't been disclosed. You can reserve one now, and it will ship around the launch window. You can rest assured I'll review this device when it's out, so stay tuned!

Meet the tiny AI hologram ready to be your esports coach and life planner

Razer is widening Project Ava's role beyond gaming coach to everyday tasks like scheduling and organizing your life AI assistants right now mostly take the form of a wall of text or a disembodied voice, but Razer thinks people would prefer to talk to a small, animated hologram with a matching personality sitting on their desk. It brought its Project AVA to CES this year to showcase exactly that. AVA first debuted at CES last year as an esports coach inside a gaming rig, but the glowing, 5-inch holographic avatar can now live on your desk, conversing with you and offering help on everything from your daily schedule to the perfect outfit of the day. AVA's cylindrical home sits next to your keyboard, appearing to house a lively hologram looking like one of a handful (so far) of assistant forms, such as original Razer characters, AVA, Kira and Zane, or recognizable esports figures. The holograms have facial expressions, lip-synced speech, and personalities that Razer says go "from bold and sassy, to calm and friendly." The built-in camera, far-field microphone array, and "PC Vision Mode" enable AVA to see your screen, hear your voice, and follow your gaze. According to Razer, the hologram isn't just for show. The projected avatar mirrors your interactions with subtle head movements, blinking, lip syncing, and expressions designed to feel alive without veering into the uncanny valley. The eye-tracking hardware lets it maintain "eye contact," giving conversations a surprising sense of reciprocity. Despite its gaming roots, AVA is designed to be a full-service assistant. Along with analyzing in-game footage and suggesting strategy tweaks in real time, it can organize your schedule, remind you of appointments, and suggest entertainment options based on your browsing. AVA is supposed to use what it learns about you, from your speech patterns to your on-screen activity, to adapt to your mood and habits. Razer suggests AVA will leverage that information, and its screen access, to give you ideas to help with making spreadsheets, editing code, or putting together presentations. The standard concerns about sharing that much information with an AI model apply to AVA, but with an extra dimension of eeriness possible when that AI has a face and voice. Razer has said the data stays local and that privacy protections are a top priority, but the intellectual understanding of an AI collecting information about you might feel more visceral when it has a human or human-like form. Razer has opened up $20 refundable reservations for AVA in the U.S. ahead of an unrevealed shipping date, likely later this year. While you technically only need a Windows PC and USB-C connection, AVA needs relatively high system performance to support its real-time avatar rendering and analysis, so it's not a casual toy. Whether power users willing to pony up for AVA find it to be a persistent digital buddy they miss when it's off might decide AVA's fate in the wider world. The glow of a small animated being quietly watching you from your desk might not appeal to the more tentative AI tool users.

CES 2026: Razer's AI gaming assistant, Project Ava, has a physical form now

Making AI companions and assistants feel more real, more physically present, has become one of the defining themes of CES this year. Razer, unsurprisingly, is a prisoner of that moment, showcasing a more tangible version of Project Ava at CES 2026. For those who need a refresher, Project Ava is Razer's real-time gaming co-pilot: an AI assistant that essentially acts as a backseat gamer for you. While you're playing, Ava -- represented here by a character named Kira -- offers live advice, tips, and commentary, overlaid directly on your screen as the game unfolds. It's coaching, but with a personality and a face. Razer technically showed off Project Ava at last year's CES, but that early demo was almost aggressively abstract. Instead of a character, it was mostly lines of code and system diagrams, with Razer walking through how the AI processed gameplay data and generated commands in real-time. Useful, sure, but not exactly something you could imagine sitting next to you during a late-night gaming session. This year's version is clearly about making the concept feel less like a backend experiment and more like a presence. Whether that makes having an AI critique your gameplay more helpful or more annoying is another question entirely. The new Project Ava hardware is a cylindrical desktop device with a transparent outer shell that displays a full-body, animated character inside. A camera is mounted at the top of the unit, facing outward, while the base features a perforated, patterned platform that gives the character a sense of depth. The bottom ring glows in Razer's signature green and is branded with the company logo. Designed to sit next to a laptop or monitor, the device functions as a dedicated display for the AI assistant, keeping it separate from the game screen rather than overlaying it on gameplay. The character Razer demoed is called Kira, though she's far from the only option. Other presets include Zane, a sharply dressed, extremely large man with a massive snake tattoo running down his arm. Very much the kind of character that feels ripped straight from something you'd find on BookTok. According to Razer, these avatars will be customizable, including the ability to create your own from scratch. The company has also partnered with influencers to offer character likenesses, including esports pro Faker, signaling that Project Ava is as much about personality and fandom as it is about utility. As with most CES demos, the room was aggressively loud, which made it hard for the AI to consistently pick up voice commands. We spent most of the demo parked in the Battlefield 6 loadout customization screen, asking Kira for advice on which guns and gadgets would make the most sense for the next round. Given the circumstances, it worked well enough, and the recommendations were solid for what they were (and yes, running frag grenades over stuns for the assault class is the correct call). Outside of gaming, Razer says it's expanded Project Ava's capabilities beyond just backseat coaching. The company claims the AI can now offer advice on non-gaming tasks as well, with Ava still appearing as an on-screen overlay while you work. In practice, that means Project Ava is inching closer to the same general-purpose assistance other AI tools promise, but with gamer branding now. There's still no release date for Project Ava, though Razer says it's targeting a vague sometime this year.

Project Ava is a desktop AI assistant that promises to watch your every move to offer both gaming advice and 'wardrobe tips'

You'll know Razer for their slick gaming chairs, headsets with an earful of charm, and much more besides. Now, the company revealed during CES 2026 that it's taking its black-green theme to the fresh frontier of... AI assistants. A concept model of Project Ava was first unveiled during CES last year, billing the AI assistant as an esports coach (or, as Jacob astutely put it then, a 'backseat gaming AI bot'). This year, it's venturing from the realm of software and acquiring a physical form, with Razer announcing plans to bring Project Ava to a desk near you as an animated, holographic 'desk companion'. The desk companion version of Project Ava looks not unlike the sort of sci-fi container where many a wayward life form has inevitably found itself. Test tube looks aside, the headline act of this hardware is the holographic display in the middle. The device also deploys an HD camera with eye-tracking, plus a far-field mic to fulfill its coaching duties. PC Vision Mode means the device can even look at your screen in order to give real-time advice -- but this version of Project Ava won't just be offering questionable gaming pointers. Razer instead bills the desk companion as "a true digital partner designed to support every facet of modern life." In other words, Project Ava is now both a backseat gaming bot as well as an especially fancy personal digital assistant. Razer goes on to say, "Ava combines intelligence with personality for an experience that feels natural, engaging, and personal." That personal touch comes in the form of, as you may have already guessed, animated holographic avatars on that luscious little screen. I've yet to see Project Ava go full 'tiny anime woman trapped in a cyber prison,' but this desk companion will offer a selection of live looks. These include Razer's original characters Kira and Zane, as well as avatars representing 'esports legends'. You can also adjust the tenor of Ava's avatar, choosing from "bold and sassy, to calm and friendly." These holograms are only about 5.5 inches tall, but deploy eye-tracking, facial animations, and lip syncing to get their proffered 'personality' across. For some (i.e. me) that's creepy enough, but Razer also touts Project Ava's adaptive AI. This means that not only does the holographic desk companion remember your previously set preferences and can help assist with organising daily tasks, but it can even offer "wardrobe tips". I'm not sure I'm ready for the shame of a tiny animated woman yelling, "You're not going out looking like that, are you?" Project Ava is expected to offer everything from recipe tips to gaming strats in the second half of 2026. If you're a US-based gamer and the idea of Project Ava spying on your screen in order to give you gaming advice doesn't immediately give you the willies, you can reserve your own desk companion for $20 right now.

Holographic AI is going to happen. But this bizarre 'friend in a jar' is not it

Gaming peripheral company Razer is betting that people want AI holograms. So much so that it introduce a perplexing new product at CES 2026 that early critics have dubbed a "friend in a bottle." Project AVA, is a small glass cylinder that features a 5.5-inch animated desk buddy that can interact with you, coach you, or offer gaming advice on demand -- all powered by xAI's Grok. Project AVA uses a technology Razer calls "PC Vision Mode" that watches your screen, allowing its 3D animated inhabitant to offer real-time commentary on your gameplay, track your mood, or simply hang out. It attempts to sell the illusion of presence -- a companion that isn't just an app you close, but a physical object that lives in your room. It's not a bad idea, in theory. Giving AI a face is not just a marketing ploy but a biological inevitability. Yet Project AVA marks a strange new milestone in our march toward AI companions. When OpenAI's introduced ChatGPT 4o voice chats in the summer of 2024, humanity entered a new form of computer interaction. Suddenly, we could interact with AI voices that were smart and natural enough for humans to maintain a conversation. Since then, we have seen other voice AIs like Gemini Live, which introduce pauses, breathing, and other elements that cross the uncanny valley and allow many to suspend disbelief and even form a bond with these assistants.

Razer has created an animated holographics AI companion that sits on your desk

TL;DR: Razer's Project AVA, showcased at CES 2026, is an innovative on-desk AI companion featuring animated avatars with eye tracking, facial expressions, and full-body animation. Equipped with PC Vision Mode, it interacts with your screen to summarize content, offer gaming advice, and manage schedules, targeting a late 2026 release. Razer's Project AVA has evolved since its debut at CES 2025, when it was presented as an AI companion in the form of an esports coach. At CES 2026, Project AVA has evolved into a flexible on-desk AI companion that pairs with a PC or laptop. With digital AI avatars a very real thing, the big thing with Project AVA is that it takes the avatar off your display and puts it into a small transparent cylinder that sits on your desk. And with multiple character avatars to choose from, Project AVA comes to life (so to speak) as a 5-inch animated character with eye tracking, facial expressions, lip-syncing, and full-body animation. The Project AVA unit includes a full HD camera so it can see you and respond to its surroundings. At CES 2026, we got to see a demo of Project AVA that responded to what someone was wearing and provided real-time weather information when asked. However, what makes it interesting and impressive is the addition of PC Vision Mode. This allows Project AVA to see what's on your screen, where it can summarize a document, offer advice on what weapon to use during your next round of Battlefield 6, and even help manage your schedule. Getting to see the different characters and avatars on display at CES 2026 as holograms that look at you and talk to you is impressive, and pretty much feels exactly like you're in the middle of a sci-fi film or game. In fact, as one of the biggest names in gaming hardware, Razer also told us that it's engaging with game developers to include their characters as optional avatars. Nothing was confirmed beyond talks, but you can imagine that having an AI companion from League of Legends, Overwatch, Valorant, or Apex Legends, sitting there as a hologram on your desk would be pretty awesome. Razer has confirmed that Project AVA is on track for a second-half of 2026 release.

I tried Razer's anime-girl-in-a-bottle, and I have so many questions

I love CES for the weird and the wacky, and Razer has truly delivered for me. I first saw Razer's Project AVA at CES 2025, where Razer presented its AI tool as a gaming aid but didn't seem entirely sure where it was going with it. How wrong we were. At CES 2026, Razer presented AVA as a fully-equipped visual AI desk companion that learns about everything you do, rather than just your gaming preferences. AVA is still very much game-integrated, but Razer is adjusting its focus to a more general audience with the idea that you'll have your "enthusiastic gaming wingman" with you at all times. Razer reveals its bottled anime girl at CES 2026 Project AVA is stepping into the "real" world Razer showed us a couple of big changes to AVA at CES 2026. First, AVA is no longer confined to your screen. AVA now lives in a 5.5-inch holographic pod that lives on your desk, sitting alongside you at all times. It's still connected to your computer via a USB-C cable, but you can now interact with AVA without speaking to the computer as an intermediary, as the new capsule enclosure includes microphones, speakers, and an HD camera to track its surroundings. Then, inside the enclosure, there is a hologram that you can interact with, such as asking questions about the latest news, directions, or information on local events, and so on. But AVA hasn't lost its gaming integrations. You can still ask the AI avatar in the tube to pick or optimize a new loadout for Battlefield 6, while AVA can also make suggestions to your mouse polling rate for games, and so on. The demo of AVA we saw was running xAI's Grok to answer questions. It successfully answered specific questions about CES, such as where the Razer booth was on the floor, what was worth seeing at the show, and some of the interesting announcements, and I was struck by how responsive the AI tool was. You can also choose different AI tools if you prefer something different. Razer has made AVA platform agnostic, so if you prefer ChatGPT's responses, you can switch over. It gives you the option to choose whatever you want, which is a nice touch; no one wants to be locked to a specific AI tool. There may even be support for custom LLMs down the line, which would add considerably more customization to AVA. MSI's new laptops bring its gaming smarts to everyday portables, and they look so good Shiny, fast, and ultra-portable -- what's not to love? Posts By Gavin Phillips Pick your AI avatar Customizable AI avatars are also coming Part of the fun and weirdness of AVA is that it's now a visual AI rather than just something on your PC. It manifests in the holographic avatar, which Razer is presenting as a proper AI companion rather than just a tool. It sounds like the company envisages it as an AI tool that will live alongside you, rather than just get involved when you're gaming. For example, Razer showed us a video of a chap using AVA around the house, asking for tips and suggestions for cooking and so on. The AVA avatar responds all the time enthusiastically (it's AI!) and wants to help with all the little tasks. AVA's premade avatars include Kira, a female anime-style waifu type character, Zane, a more burly male character that looks like the "Giga Chad" meme, and Faker, a legendary esports player sponsored by Razer. Each brings a specific personality to the table, but some of the speech and mannerisms are the same, and, dare I say, a little on the cringy side. Asking a question will often result in small quips slipped into the conversation, adding some extra flavor, but many of the comments feel very teenager-edge-lord. I'm probably showing my age a bit, but as a man approaching 40, I don't want or need the extra little comments. Perhaps there's a way to turn those bits off, but I wasn't shown that during the demo. Subscribe for deeper AVA and AI gadget coverage Get the newsletter for in-depth coverage of Razer's AVA and other AI desktop companions -- hands-on impressions, avatar customization and platform-compatibility breakdowns, plus comparative analysis to evaluate these emerging gadgets. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. What I find particularly interesting about AVA is that Razer isn't positioning this as a gaming product anymore. Sure, it has RGB ,and it's very clearly a Razer product, but the company is pushing it as a "Friend for Life" that will be alongside you, helping your every decision. It comes through in the conversation and responses, with Razer crafting AVA's appearance as a cute anime girl that lives alongside you, giggling and blushing as it responds and generally acting as if there is a real relationship. I can't decide whether it's odd that Razer is pushing this cutesy anime girl, or if I'm actually overthinking it and this is just a normal progression of tech. I mean, people talk to ChatGPT and Gemini all the time, so why not have a visual representation of it? MakeUseOf's Best of CES 2026: Headphones, rollable laptops, and multi-screen smartphones It's a bumper year for shiny new tech at this year's edition of CES. Posts By Gavin Phillips I won't knock it until I've really tried it As with most tech, I'll reserve my full judgement until after I've given it a proper try at home. A quick demo on the CES 2026 show floor is useful, but it doesn't give you the full experience. And as I'm swaying between potentially super useful and super weird parasocial AI anime girl vibes, it's best to wait to pass full comment. You can reserve access to Razer's Project AVA for $20, though there was no official final price for the AI project, nor a specific date of launch bar some point in 2026 H2. I'd estimate this will come at around $200, similar to other Razer hardware.

CES 2026: Razer's Project Ava Brings an Echo-Like Holographic AI Assistant

Users can choose from six different gaming and anime-inspired avatars Razer, a California-based gaming hardware, peripherals, and software company, announced its entry into the artificial intelligence (AI) devices category on Tuesday. The company unveiled Project Ava, an AI-powered holographic device, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, which is said to act as a physical desktop companion for users. The gaming company highlighted that the device is aimed at bridging the gap between virtual assistance and physical companionship. The biggest highlight of the device is a miniature 3D digital avatar that reacts and interacts with the user. Razer Project Ava Unveiled at CES 2026 In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Razer introduced Project Ava as an "all-in-one AI companion." The device is essentially a voice-based AI chatbot combined with a holographic device, but it is an idea that has not been experimented with much in the mainstream. The company is pitching the device as a "digital partner that lives right alongside the user," merging the reasoning and intuitiveness of AI with the tangibility of an avatar. The cylindrical device has transparent glass-like walls. Once activated, a 5.5-inch digital avatar appears within this space. As per the official website, there are six different gaming and anime-inspired avatars to choose from. Ava is a glowing energy ball with a calm personality; Kira is a supportive anime girl; Zane is described as a gaming wingman; Faker is an e-sports wiz; and Sao is designed as a character inspired by South Korean idols. The device comes equipped with a dual far-field microphone array, an HD camera with an ambient light sensor, down-firing speakers, customisable showcase LEDs, RGB lighting, and a USB-C port for power and data transfer. Razer stated that the AI capabilities come from xAI's Grok and that the device can perform most of the tasks the chatbot can. On the website, some of the use cases mention that Project Ava can "proactively manage your calendar, wardrobe selection, or figure out what to eat that night" or "track habits, moods, and provide personalised motivation and reminders for your self-care routines." However, the main focus of the device is towards gaming tasks. Designed specifically for Windows users, Project Ava can connect to a Windows PC via a USB-C cable to analyse screen content with minimal latency. The cable is necessary for the AI assistant to assist users with whatever appears on their screens. Notably, Project Ava can now be reserved by paying $20 (roughly Rs. 1,800), and shipping is expected to start in the second half of 2026. Razer has not revealed the price of the device or if a subscription will be required to access the AI features.

GRTV News - Razer is looking to replace your friends with AI

"Hello everyone and welcome back to another GRTV News, today we're going to be talking a little bit about CES, the Consumer Electronics something, I can't remember what the actual CES stands for." "But anyway, the reason why we're going to talk about it is because obviously this week is full of innovations and interesting new developments, one of which is coming from Razer who in the past have revealed this idea of making an AI gaming assistant called Project Ava." "Now they've shown it off again at CES and the big catch here is that, well, now it has a physical body. So basically they're trying to make this proper sort of ideal companion I guess, that somewhat resembles what we see in sort of these futuristic cyberpunk-y type worlds, like for example Ana de Armas' character in Blade Runner 2049." "And yeah, now Project Ava is looking to replace your best friend I guess, so I don't know, let's take a look. But yes, Razer's AI gaming assistant now has a physical body, instead of popping up as an overlay on your monitor, Razer's latest version of Project Ava lives inside a small desktop device with a clear shell." "Before we move on, if you are interested in more CES stuff we do have our CES page, which is up here now, so there's that. Anyway, if there's a single theme running through CES 2026 it's that AI is trying very hard to feel more real and that it doesn't want to stay trapped inside screens anymore." "Razer's latest version of Project Ava leans directly into that idea by giving its AI gaming assistant a physical form, turning what was once background software into something that sits right next to your screen. Now Project Ava acts like a backseat game, offering advice and suggestions while you play instead of popping up as an overlay on your monitor." "The new version lives inside a small desktop device with a clear shell, as you can see in the video below. Inside is an animated character that talks, reacts and offers tips in real time, making the experience feel more like gaming with a companion than a consulting tool." "Razer also says these characters will be customisable with different personalities and even influencer inspired options. Whether that sounds helpful or mildly annoying probably depends on the player. There's still no release date but Project Ava fits neatly into that broader CES trend, AI stepping out of the background and into our physical spaces and asking us whether we actually want the company." "What do you think about this new version of Project Ava? Now I won't, I'll just mute that quickly. The big thing is about AI companions, right, but as you can see in this video, it's more than that." "It's like creeping into your personal life, offering you advice about sort of clothes that you should wear for the day ahead and stuff like that. So yeah, it's unusual really. Some people have come out and, you know, asked the question is like, is this, is this real? Is this really something that's happening or is Razer sort of pulling our leg here? But no, it's very real and it's something that Razer is very much committing to." "So Project Ava will be taking the world by storm at some point. No doubt we'll have more about this in the near future, so stay tuned for more on Project Ava. But for the time being, again, if you're looking for more CES news, we have loads of it filling up the site over the next couple of days and for the weeks ahead and whatnot."

Razor's Project AVA is a Holographic AI Companion for Your Desk

Project AVA is now open for pre-booking with a $20 fee and it's expected to launch in the second half of 2026. Razor is bringing your Blade Runner-stye holographic AI dreams to life this year. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, the gaming peripheral company showcased its upcoming product, called Project AVA. It is a holographic 24/7 companion that can help with your everyday tasks, as well as guide you in games. And you can reserve it for just $20. As Razor explains on its website, Project AVA, "features a dynamic personality that learns and evolves based on your interactions. Brought to life as an animated 5.5'' 3D hologram, she uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness. AVA simplifies life by organizing your schedule, consulting on work tasks, and guiding you to victory as your enthusiastic gaming wingman." It looks similar to a 1st-gen Amazon Echo, with a jar-like design. It features dual mics at the top, alongside an HD camera and a down-firing speaker at the bottom. Project AVA is built specifically for Windows machines and, "requires a direct connection to a Windows PC via a USB-C cable." This allows the AI companion to see the contents of your screen and provide real-time assistance in the games you are playing. The AI companion is designed to be dynamic, changing its interaction based on your mood and habit. The 3D avatars have been developed in partnership with Animation Inc. and are powered by xAI's Grok, who also powers AI companions like Ani. However, Razor has clarified on its website that, "AVA is built with an open, future-ready architecture intended to support compatibility with other leading AI platforms." This 5.5-inch holographic AI companion has a lot of people excited, and the internet is going crazy over the product already. Razer has already opened pre-bookings for Project AVA, and you can reserve one for yourself with just $20. The exact price and release date remain unclear at this point, but Razor has mentioned that Project AVA is expected to launch in the second half of 2026. Apart from that, Razor also unveiled an AI headset called Project Motoko featuring cameras which will act like a real-time AI assistant.