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

midian182

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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.

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Yet another predatory privacy nightmare preying on the young and stupid.

That being said, a ball of light as the fourth option kinda shows their art department doesn't have too much knocking around upstairs and ran out if humanoids pretty quickly.
Agree that it will be a privacy nightmare, but the ball of light is probably a much better option than you might think. Having a sexy character as the avatar, says something about the user, while a ball of light provides that kind of abstraction that "it's just AI, not some character I'm ogling". Or, it keeps the AI abstract, which a lot of people are more comfortable with.

In any case, this kind of personal assistant stuff is exactly what AI will be do more and more of. Its future presentation, capabilities, impact on interpersonal relationships, are all yet to be determined. Certainly won't be all positive.
 
Agree that it will be a privacy nightmare, but the ball of light is probably a much better option than you might think. Having a sexy character as the avatar, says something about the user, while a ball of light provides that kind of abstraction that "it's just AI, not some character I'm ogling". Or, it keeps the AI abstract, which a lot of people are more comfortable with.

In any case, this kind of personal assistant stuff is exactly what AI will be do more and more of. Its future presentation, capabilities, impact on interpersonal relationships, are all yet to be determined. Certainly won't be all positive.

I agree it's a good option for neutrality, but if they want something like this to succeed and not be immediately consumed by a knock-off, they need to swing the bat a little harder. Like avatar creation with a marketplace of various assets these goons will pay real money for. They have 2 avatars. They are selling promises and an underdeveloped literal platform.
 
I think this concept would work.
On psychological level, humans have this tendency to pour some thoughts that are the abstract layers that blocks real awareness before clear focus. More like live journal. Spell to peel the outer layers until some clever ideas appear.

I wonder what will they think when realising that this talking to AI is like talking alone, but smarter than actually not talking at all.

I imagine some CEO using something similar, at one moment reaching epiphany on some crazy ideas they usually aim for.
 
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