"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

The first showcase I attended at CES 2026 was from MSI, and it certainly set the tone for the rest of the show. Gorgeous PC gaming hardware, thin new laptops, brilliant displays, and, of course, a lot of AI.

One new product that stood out to me was the MEG X, a 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor with AI tools baked right in. The tagline for this undeniably gorgeous screen? "AI Sees First. You Win First." Right. This isn't the first AI-infused gaming monitor to show up in the past couple of years, but it is the most advanced.

As I approached this beacon of OLED on the showroom floor, an MSI representative was quick to begin explaining its capabilities. "This kind of feels like cheating," I said, to which the rep just sort of laughed and shrugged it off.

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The MEG X has six total AI enhancements. Some of them are less egregious than the others, and I can see how they'd be a massive boon when it comes to accessibility. An AI Gauge warns you when your health (or any other mana or energy) bar is low. These aren't always easy to see, especially if your vision is impaired.

AI Scene automatically analyzes what type of game you're playing and switches to the optimal display profile. Not a bad idea, especially for those who aren't exactly sure how to get the best picture.

Here's where things turn a bit more nefarious. AI Vision+ effectively removes dark spots on your screen, allowing you to peek into those unlit corners. Arc Raiders players would certainly get a big boost with this feature.

AI Scope automatically zooms in when it senses a player beneath your crosshair. AI Tracker highlights in-game characters as they appear on your screen. No more hiding! And AI Goggle might be the most egregious of all with its ability to remove the effects of flashbangs. Counter-Strike 2 players just sat up to attention.

MSI says there are no limits to this AI tech; you don't have to set anything up or train it on games. It works automatically with any game.

Don't use it for competitive gaming, or whatever

About 30 minutes after I first laid eyes on the AI monitor, MSI's actual keynote presentation kicked off, and the MEG X was introduced in a tongue-in-cheek manner, like "Hey, don't use this for multiplayer or competitive gaming. WINK WINK. LOL."

Indeed, MSI's marketing slide explaining the monitor's AI capabilities has a small asterisk — *These AI features are recommended for use in single-player gameplay or practice. That should definitely remove any liability when these monitors are eventually used in some competitive tournament that's not attended in person.

See, with AI contained to the monitor's own processing abilities, there's really no way — at least for now — for these performance-enhancing tools to be detected by traditional anti-cheat measures.

Bottom line? The tech is impressive, but I hate to see this sort of pay-to-win hardware coming to market when there's not yet a solid way to keep it out of competitive play. I could certainly benefit from these tools — I'm getting old, and my reflexes and sight aren't what they used to be — but I could never justify using them when going up against real players.

Am I old and out of touch? Are AI "cheats" in monitors an inevitable step forward? Is there any way for this type of hardware to be banned from competitive play? Let me know in the comments section below!

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