Razer thinks you’d somewhat have AI headphones as a substitute of glasses

“This is the future of AI wearables!”

That’s what I’m instructed as a Razer consultant slips a pair of in any other case nondescript headphones over their ears. Except this isn’t a daily pair of gaming headphones. This is Razer’s Project Motoko, an idea pair of headphones that has two 4K cameras, close to and much discipline microphones, and built-in AI. The system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, although Razer is tightlipped about precisely which. That’s as a result of by the point the system hits cabinets, it could be a barely totally different one than the one its displaying off at CES 2026.

Headphones, the Razer rep tells me, are a significantly better alternative for on-the-go AI than sensible glasses earlier than rattling off some causes. For starters, headphones have longer battery life. While Razer declines to provide us an official battery spec, I’m instructed that they’ve achieved as much as 36 hours in testing. If that holds up, that’s a big benefit. By comparability, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses get about six hours on a single cost. Some sensible glasses obtain longer battery life, however I’ve but to see a pair of sensible glasses really final all day. Theoretically, you might additionally use these headphones whereas charging — that’s one thing you’ll be able to’t do with sensible glasses both.

Supposedly, putting cameras within the cans additionally provides extra pure point-of-view footage. I’m skeptical about that because it is dependent upon the sensible glasses. That could also be true of glasses that place cameras in a singular hinge, nevertheless it’s a doubtful declare for people who home cameras within the nostril bridge.

Lastly, as a result of these are precise over-the-ear cans, nobody else can hear the solutions to your conversations. A rep tells me that’s far more personal than open-ear audio you get in glasses.

Otherwise, it really works equally to how AI glasses work. You can take photographs with a press of a button, and from there, discuss or ask inquiries to whichever AI assistant you select. The demo mannequin I see has ChatGPT preloaded.

Like many CES demos, this one is a bit on rails. I get to see Project Motoko translate a restaurant menu written in Japanese. It identifies accurately a pill as a miniature model of the Rosetta Stone. At one level, it interprets methods to say “One matcha latte, please” in Japanese and repeats it slower with the phonetics enunciated. (Said translation is correct.) I’m instructed you’ll additionally be capable to use it to ask for recipe solutions or to generate exercise suggestions. Some primary AI queries may be finished domestically on the headphones, whereas extra complicated queries would require your cellphone or PC’s web connection. In any case, I’m instructed Project Motoko would require minimal connectivity. Big, if true.

When I ask about privateness, Razer refers me to a teeny tiny recording indicator gentle. I hadn’t seen it going off in any respect in the course of the demo, and I’m skeptical of whether or not it’ll be absolutely seen in vibrant environment or in the event you occur to have a voluminous head of hair. Speaking of luscious locks, I’m curious to see how that may impede digicam views. On sensible glasses, my bangs are a continuing, unwelcome intrusion in video and picture footage.

I form of blame Sam Altman and Jony Ive for this. Last 12 months, the duo introduced Open AI was engaged on a mysterious AI {hardware} product that wouldn’t be glasses. So far, all we all know is it’ll be screen-free and concerning the dimension of a cellphone however early on, many (together with myself) speculated that headphones could be within the combine. Now it appears Razer’s taken that concept and is operating with it. Razer has already experimented with smart glasses, to a lackluster response, so maybe that’s another excuse why the corporate is eager to department out.

For an idea product, Razer appears fairly assured that it will truly attain customers. While Razer declined to call an estimated worth, the corporate says to count on Project Motoko to reach someday later this 12 months.