We’re back to start the year with a very special live interview with Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, which we taped in front of a terrific audience at Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas during CES. At this year’s show, Razer made headlines for something it calls Project Ava, an AI companion that has a physical presence in the real world, as an anime hologram that sits in a jar on your desk. It’s powered by, you guessed it, Elon Musk’s Grok. 

There are a whole lot of choices bundled up in all of that, as well as Razer’s decision to go all-in on AI at a moment when the gaming community is outright rejecting it. So Min and I really got into it. I think you’ll have a lot to think about with this one. 

Links: 


Razer is making an AI anime waifu hologram for your desk | The Verge


Razer thinks you’d rather have AI headphones instead of glasses | The Verge


Baldur’s Gate 3 studio says it won’t use AI for concept art or writing | The Verge


In 2025, AI became a lightning rod for gamers and devs | The Verge


Razer plans $600M push to capture 'untapped' AI gaming demand | Bloomberg


Replika CEO says it’s okay if we end up marrying AI chatbots | Decoder


Lawsuits blame ChatGPT for suicides and harmful delusions | NYT


Inside three longterm relationships with AI chatbots | NYT


Torment Nexus | Know Your Meme


The future of gaming is AI | Razer (Instagram)



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Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. 

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
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