Why would an individual who typically doesn’t wear glasses choose to adopt AI-enhanced smart glasses? This question was raised by Razer at CES 2026, and it certainly holds merit.

As a result, Razer created a novel wearable, unveiled at CES as Project Motoko, an AI-infused headset. Project Motoko remains a prototype without an established release timeline or pricing. Razer provided Mashable with an exclusive demonstration at CES, which may leave some anticipating its launch after hearing about our experience.

Project Motoko features a comprehensive AI assistant integrated into the headphones, driven by Snapdragon with dual eye-level cameras for situational awareness. In a demonstration, Razer showcased its functionalities by portraying a scenario in Japan, where the headset translated a Japanese menu and responded to inquiries about it, even suggesting alternatives based on financial limitations. It also identified a replica of the Rosetta Stone and shared information regarding it. Project Motoko is not restricted to a single AI model, allowing users to select their desired large language model.

Razer contends that there are distinct benefits to having an AI assistant in headphones instead of smart glasses. The demonstration emphasized that interactions with the AI remain confidential within the headphones, in contrast to smart glasses where conversations might be overheard. Nevertheless, Project Motoko does not feature a display, which is a component that some smart glasses provide, though not all. Razer is convinced that more individuals utilize headphones daily compared to glasses or watches, and that users favor AI wearables that resemble known devices. During our hands-on with Project Motoko, it felt akin to standard headphones, indicating that Razer may be onto something.

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