“This kind of feels like cheating” — MSI’s MEG X AI gaming monitor might be the wildest display at CES, blending over‑the‑top design with AI features nobody asked for

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MSI’s presentation was the first I saw at CES 2026, and it really stood out. They showed off beautiful gaming PCs, sleek new laptops, impressive screens, and plenty of products featuring artificial intelligence.

The MEG X ultrawide gaming monitor really caught my eye. This 34-inch screen boasts built-in AI features, and its slogan – “AI Sees First. You Win First.” – hints at its key benefit. While other gaming monitors with AI are available, the MEG X seems to be the most sophisticated one yet.

Walking up to the bright OLED screen on display, an MSI representative immediately started telling me what it could do. I jokingly said it felt like an unfair advantage, and the representative just laughed and dismissed my comment.

The MEG X features six AI-powered features designed to help players. While some are more noticeable than others, they could be really helpful for accessibility. For example, an AI Gauge alerts you when your health, mana, or energy is getting low – something that can be hard to track, especially for players with visual impairments.

AI Scene automatically detects the game you’re playing and adjusts the display settings for the best possible picture. This is particularly helpful if you’re not sure how to manually optimize your display.

Now, things get really interesting. AI Vision+ cleverly brightens dark areas of your screen, letting you see details you’d normally miss. This would be a huge advantage for players of games like Arc Raiders.

Counter-Strike 2 players are taking notice of some new AI-powered features. AI Scope automatically zooms in on opponents when you aim near them. AI Tracker makes enemies easily visible on screen, eliminating hiding spots. And AI Goggle is particularly powerful, as it removes the disorienting effects of flashbangs.

MSI claims this AI technology is limitless and requires no setup or training. It automatically works with all games, without needing any configuration.

Don’t use it for competitive gaming, or whatever

Roughly half an hour after I first saw the AI-powered monitor, MSI’s main presentation began, and they playfully introduced the MEG X, jokingly warning people not to use it for serious competitive gaming.

MSI’s explanation of the monitor’s AI features includes a note stating they’re best used in single-player games or practice sessions. This likely protects MSI if someone tries to use these AI features in a competitive online tournament, as the features aren’t officially endorsed for that purpose.

Currently, because AI operates within the limits of a computer’s own processing power, standard anti-cheat systems can’t detect these tools that improve performance.

The technology itself is really cool, but I’m concerned about devices that give players an unfair advantage being sold before there are rules to prevent them from being used in competitions. While these tools could actually help me – I’m not as quick or sharp-eyed as I used to be – I wouldn’t feel right using them against other players who don’t have access to the same advantages.

I’m wondering if I’m getting too old to understand these new technologies! Are AI features in gaming monitors considered cheating, and are they here to stay? Is it possible to prevent this kind of hardware from being used in esports? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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2026-01-16 18:12