madAssist Could Change How We Set Up High-End AV Gear

madVR Labs has spent the past several years adding more and more features to its Envy video processors, and CEDIA Expo 2026 will bring another major addition to that list.

The new feature is called madAssist, an AI-powered product expert designed to help users understand, configure, optimize, and troubleshoot AV products. It launches first with support for the madVR Envy and will be demonstrated at CEDIA Expo in Denver from September 2 through 4 at Booth 2047.

madVR Labs describes madAssist as the AV industry's first AI Product Expert for complex products. The patent-pending platform can answer product questions, guide users through setup and support processes, and, when connected to compatible hardware, inspect and configure the product directly with the user's permission.

For Envy owners and dealers, that means the assistant can do quite a bit more than search manuals or surface documentation.

madAssist can help answer compatibility and system design questions before a purchase, provide setup recommendations during installation, explain features during day-to-day use, and assist with troubleshooting and optimization.

The processor can handle HDR dynamic tone mapping, aspect-ratio management, subtitle processing, MotionAI, image enhancement, and a long list of installation-specific settings. madVR already offers the free Envy Academy video series for users who want to dig deeper into those features. madAssist gives users another way to access that knowledge, this time through conversation.

madVR Labs says it developed the platform after evaluating existing AI bots and finding that they did not provide the level of control it wanted. The company wanted a system that could combine curated product knowledge, support experience, guided workflows, brand-specific messaging, and direct product interaction.

"We are fortunate to have technical experts who are among the best in our industry, but no human team can be available to every customer and dealer across every time zone, every minute of every day," said Richard Litofsky, Co-founder and CEO of madVR Labs. "madAssist extends their knowledge and reach so people can get expert help on their own timeline. With the Envy, it goes even further by analyzing the product's configuration, recommending the right settings and, with the user's approval, applying those changes automatically."

One of the more interesting parts of madAssist is its integration with Envy Commander, madVR Labs' upcoming web-based control and configuration interface. That integration is already working for authorized users participating in the private beta.

Through Commander, madAssist can securely connect to an authorized Envy and inspect its current configuration. Users can ask questions while the system analyzes settings, explains what it finds, flags potential issues, and recommends changes. With approval, it can also apply those changes.

Other supported actions include switching profiles, checking firmware status, and downloading a complete backup of the Envy configuration. Changes can be followed live through a feature called Follow Mode, and users can revert settings after experimenting.

That could be useful in several different situations. An installer troubleshooting an HDMI issue could have madAssist inspect the current configuration and walk through possible causes. An owner trying to understand an unfamiliar setting could ask what it does and how it affects the image. More experienced users could use it to speed up testing without losing track of previous settings. madVR also sees the system as a way to reduce the amount of time dealers and support teams spend working through complicated setup problems.

The company says madAssist will eventually be able to ask users about their equipment and viewing preferences and then build a complete Envy configuration around that information. The process will take into account the display, AV sources, AVR or processor, system integration, and the user's preferred presentation. That includes whether someone wants a more purist image or prefers additional processing and enhancement. With permission, madAssist will then be able to perform an expert-level setup automatically.

If it works as described, that could make some of Envy's deeper capabilities easier to access without removing the control that advanced users and professional installers expect. Envy is the first product supported by madAssist, but madVR Labs does not plan to keep the platform limited to its own hardware.

The company says madAssist will also be available to other AV manufacturers. From there, they will be able to create branded versions built around their own product knowledge, support processes, policies, and brand voice. If a product offers suitable APIs or another compatible control platform, madAssist can also be used to inspect settings, perform authorized configuration changes, verify the result, and document what was done.

At CEDIA Expo 2026, madVR Labs plans to demonstrate both basic and more advanced uses of madAssist. Attendees will be able to see it answer product questions, walk through setup and troubleshooting, inspect an Envy configuration, recommend settings, and apply approved changes through Commander. The demonstrations will also show Follow Mode, configuration rollback, and automatic documentation of completed actions.

madVR will have plenty of its existing Envy technology on display as well, including Dynamic Subtitle Overlay, MotionAI, patented HDR Dynamic Tone Mapping, AI-powered image enhancement, instant aspect-ratio management, and the Envy Core paired with high-end televisions.

madAssist is available to try now at  madassist.madvr.com .