Secretlab CEO Ian Ang refuses to chase trends that don't serve the company's core mission. In an interview at the company's Singapore headquarters, Ang addressed two pressing concerns facing the gaming peripherals market: knockoff products and the industry-wide push toward AI integration.
Secretlab, the premium gaming chair manufacturer behind the Titan and Omega lines, faces constant competition from copycats flooding the market with cheaper imitations. Ang takes this threat seriously but channels energy into product differentiation and quality rather than legal whack-a-mole. The company's design language and engineering remain difficult to replicate at scale, giving legitimate competitors pause.
On artificial intelligence, Ang draws a harder line. He notes that private ownership grants Secretlab freedom to reject AI initiatives that lack genuine utility. "If we were owned by outside investors, you can bet that AI will be somehow jammed down our throats," Ang stated. This reflects frustration many industry observers share about forced AI adoption across consumer products where it adds little value.
The gaming chair market exploded over the past five years as esports and streaming drove demand for premium seating. Secretlab captured significant share through consistent quality and direct-to-consumer sales, but that success created an obvious target for competitors. Brands flood Amazon and regional marketplaces with chairs using similar aesthetics and price positioning.
Ang's stance positions Secretlab against the broader trend of publicly traded tech companies chasing every emerging technology. While AI integration makes headlines and satisfies investor expectations, Secretlab's approach prioritizes solving actual customer problems. Gaming chair design remains a hardware challenge centered on ergonomics, materials, and manufacturing excellence. None of these require machine learning.
The company's independence lets it move deliberately. That's a luxury few gaming peripherals manufacturers enjoy. As market consolidation continues and private equity circles the sector, Secretlab's willingness to