News/AR/VR
Google develops AI software agent before annual conference
Google is reportedly preparing to unveil an AI coding agent and potentially integrating Gemini with its AR hardware at its upcoming I/O developer conference. The demonstrations, which have already been shown to employees and select developers, highlight Google's push to translate its massive AI investments into tangible products as it faces mounting investor pressure for returns and intensifying competition in the AI space. The software development agent represents a significant step toward AI-assisted programming, potentially reshaping how developers work. The big picture: Google has been showcasing various AI products internally, including a comprehensive software development agent that could transform coding...
read May 12, 2025Apple explores AI model for potential smart glasses
Apple's new FastVLM visual language model represents a significant breakthrough in on-device AI for wearable technology, potentially powering future Apple smart glasses. This lightweight, high-speed model processes high-resolution images with minimal computing resources, suggesting Apple is developing the foundational AI technology needed for its rumored 2027 smart eyewear that would compete with Meta's Ray-Bans. The big picture: Apple's Machine Learning Research team has developed FastVLM, a visual language model designed specifically for Apple Silicon that processes high-resolution images with unprecedented efficiency. The model is built on Apple's open ML framework MLX, released in 2023, which enables local AI processing on...
read Apr 22, 2025Airtel and partners test AI, digital twins on 5G in India
The convergence of 5G, extended reality, and AI is ushering in a new era for manufacturing in India, with significant implications for industrial operations and workforce development. This strategic partnership between telecommunications, technology, and automobile manufacturing giants represents a notable step in India's Industry 4.0 evolution, bringing together communications infrastructure, advanced computing, and industrial expertise to create more intelligent and adaptive manufacturing environments. The big picture: Bharti Airtel, Ericsson, and Volvo Group have formed a research partnership to integrate Extended Reality, Digital Twin technologies, and AI within manufacturing environments using 5G Advanced networks. The collaboration will use Volvo's Bangalore Factory...
read Apr 13, 2025Meta’s new Ray-Ban smart glasses will feature a display for $1,300
Meta is preparing to elevate its smart glasses technology with a new Ray-Ban collaboration featuring an integrated display. The upcoming "Hypernova" glasses represent Meta's push into more sophisticated augmented reality eyewear, positioning the company to compete in the growing market for wearable computing devices that blend digital information with the physical world. The big picture: Meta plans to release advanced Ray-Ban smart glasses with a built-in display later this year, significantly upgrading their current audio-only offerings while maintaining the familiar sunglass form factor. The new glasses, codenamed "Hypernova," will feature a monocular display in the lower right quadrant of the...
read Apr 12, 2025Cornerstone combines Meta’s Llama AI with XR tech to transform corporate training
Cornerstone is pioneering a transformative approach to workforce training by merging extended reality (XR) technologies with Meta's Llama AI models. This integration represents a significant advancement in corporate learning, allowing organizations to create immersive, AI-powered training experiences that simulate real-world scenarios while providing personalized feedback. As the workforce becomes increasingly digital, this innovation addresses the critical need for more engaging and effective skills development methods that can adapt to the modern workplace. The big picture: Cornerstone, a workforce agility platform used by over 7,000 organizations worldwide, has integrated Meta's Llama 3.1 8B model to power immersive XR training experiences across...
read Mar 13, 2025Snapchat launches AI-generated AR Lenses exclusively for premium subscribers
Are you a Snapchat preferred customer? If so, this news is for you. Snapchat is elevating augmented reality experiences with new AI-generated Lenses exclusively for its premium subscribers. The platform's latest feature leverages generative AI to create more realistic and interactive AR filters, marking another advancement in how social media platforms are integrating AI capabilities into creative tools. This development represents a growing trend of platforms using AI to enhance user-generated content while creating premium features to drive subscription revenue. The big picture: Snapchat has launched AI-generated Lenses exclusively for Snapchat Platinum subscribers, using an in-house built generative video model...
read Mar 7, 2025TooFar Media to debut AI-powered immersive story experience at SXSW 2025
There's New Media, and then there's New Media. AI-driven immersive storytelling continues to break new ground as TooFar Media prepares to debut "The Hornet's Spell" at SXSW 2025. This innovative project represents a significant evolution in narrative experiences, blending literature with AI-generated visuals, animation, and spatial audio to create a multi-dimensional storyworld that surrounds and responds to audiences rather than simply being consumed passively. The big picture: TooFar Media is pioneering a new approach to storytelling that merges traditional literary fiction with cutting-edge AI technology to create fully immersive narrative experiences. This experimental format challenges conventional storytelling boundaries by pulling...
read Mar 5, 2025Augmented retail: Google morphs online shopping with AI that visualizes clothing before you buy
Google is rapidly transforming search into a personalized shopping experience through AI-powered visual tools. The company's new features allow users to visualize clothing and makeup products before purchasing, addressing a common consumer pain point where shoppers struggle to find items matching their mental vision. These developments represent a significant evolution in Google's AI integration strategy, making online shopping more intuitive while keeping users within Google's ecosystem rather than navigating to specialized retailer sites. The big picture: Google has launched "vision match," an AI tool that generates images based on detailed clothing descriptions and then suggests similar purchasable items. Mobile users...
read Feb 24, 2025ROOP swoops into the face swap space with variety of impressive new features
The ROOP Unleashed software package represents a significant advancement in AI-powered face swapping technology, building upon its predecessor with enhanced capabilities for both photo and video manipulation. This latest version introduces VR support and improved multi-tasking features, making it accessible through a browser-based interface. Core Capabilities: ROOP Unleashed combines sophisticated facial recognition with real-time processing to enable seamless face swapping across multiple media types. The software supports simultaneous face swapping of multiple subjects within a single video Users can select specific faces, first-detected faces, or apply gender-based swapping criteria Real-time preview functionality allows users to review changes before finalizing outputs...
read Feb 22, 2025Vision Pro finally gets Apple Intelligence, plus new iOS app
The Apple Vision Pro headset first launched in early 2024 as Apple's entry into spatial computing, offering users a mixed reality experience for productivity and entertainment. The upcoming visionOS 2.4 update marks Apple's first major AI integration for the device. Key Features Overview: The update introduces Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered tools that enhance the Vision Pro's native capabilities through natural language processing and computer vision. Vision Pro users will gain access to AI writing assistance across native apps, allowing voice-prompted edits and proofreading A new feature called Genmojis enables the creation of personalized emoji reactions Image Playground integration...
read Feb 21, 2025Niantic plans $3.5B ‘Pokemon Go’ sale as HP acquires AI Pin
Whatever the "name of the game," it's going to have AR and VR written all throughout it. Here are some big happenings in that space... The virtual and augmented reality gaming landscape continues to evolve, with several major acquisitions and product launches reshaping the industry in early 2025. Notable developments include Niantic's potential sale of Pokémon Go and HP's acquisition of Humane's AI technology assets. Major industry shifts: Niantic is in negotiations to sell Pokémon Go to Scopely Inc. for approximately $3.5 billion, marking a significant change in the AR gaming space. The deal reflects challenges in AR gaming profitability, as...
read Feb 19, 2025From patrons to platforms: AI sparks new era in Hollywood history
The film industry is experiencing a significant shift as traditional studio-backed moviemaking faces declining theater attendance and criticism for playing it safe with formulaic content. AI technology is emerging as a potential catalyst for independent filmmakers to bypass traditional studio systems and create innovative content. The current state of Hollywood: Traditional moviemaking in 2025 faces significant challenges with average film budgets ranging from $100 to $150 million and decreasing theater attendance. Marvel's recent Captain America film has received criticism for its overly cautious approach and lack of artistic vision The 2024 Academy Awards faced criticism for being "worse than bad"...
read Feb 19, 2025Georgia Tech PhD student trains humanoid robots with AR glasses
Call it magnificent mimicry. The rapid advancement in humanoid robotics has been limited by slow, manual data collection methods requiring direct robot operation. Georgia Tech researchers have developed a breakthrough approach using Meta's Project Aria glasses to capture human behaviors that can train robots more efficiently. Key innovation: EgoMimic, developed by PhD student Simar Kareer at Georgia Tech's Robotic Learning and Reasoning Lab, uses egocentric recordings from Aria glasses to create training data for humanoid robots. The framework combines human-recorded data with robot data to teach robots everyday tasks Traditional robot training requires hundreds of manual demonstrations through direct robot...
read Feb 7, 2025Apple scraps AR glasses, plus more from Meta, Amazon and Google
Multiple tech shifts: Major technology companies are making strategic pivots and launches in AI, mixed reality, and gaming sectors, with some scaling back while others accelerate their investments. Apple's strategic retreat: Apple has discontinued development of its AR glasses while maintaining focus on the $3,500 Vision Pro The company appears to be falling behind in AI development, particularly with Siri lagging behind competitors Enterprise mixed reality has become Apple's primary focus in the wearables space Amazon's AI assistant evolution: Amazon is preparing a significant upgrade to Alexa, its first major enhancement in over 10 years The new version will feature...
read Jan 14, 2025Meta to eliminate 5% of staff in shift to AI and AR development
Meta has announced plans to cut 5% of its workforce, approximately 3,600 employees, as part of a strategic shift to prioritize artificial intelligence and augmented reality development. Strategic reshaping: Mark Zuckerberg is implementing performance-based cuts to create space for new talent focused on AI innovation and smart glasses development. Employees deemed as "low performers" will be notified by February 10 and receive generous severance packages The company will retain some underperforming employees if management sees potential for future improvement This represents Meta's largest workforce reduction since 2023's "year of efficiency" cuts Performance management overhaul: Zuckerberg aims to accelerate the process...
read Jan 8, 2025Halliday AI smart glasses may outperform Ray-Ban Metas
Google, Meta, and Apple have been working to develop AI-enabled smart glasses, but Halliday has beaten them to market with a innovative design that integrates the display into the frame rather than the lens. Key Innovation: Halliday's smart glasses feature what the company claims is the world's smallest optical module, measuring just 3.6mm, which enables a display that's built into the frame instead of the lens. The display provides a viewing experience comparable to a 3.5-inch screen The frames weigh only 35 grams, significantly lighter than Meta's 48-gram Ray-Ban smart glasses Available in three colors (Amber, Black, and Gradient), the...
read Jan 3, 2025Swave Photonics secures $28M to make holograms a reality
Swave Photonics has secured $28.27 million in Series A funding to develop holographic display technology for AI-powered smartglasses and heads-up displays. The funding details: The investment round was co-led by Imec.xpand and SFPIM Relaunch, with participation from both new and existing investors. New investors include EIC Fund, IAG Capital Partners, and Murata Electronics North America Existing investors Qbic Fund, PMV, Imec, and Luminate also participated The company previously raised $10.47 million in seed funding in 2023 Core technology innovation: Swave's Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) platform uses proprietary NanoPixel technology to create advanced 3D holographic images. The technology utilizes what the...
read Jan 1, 2025AI takes center stage at CES 2025
CES 2025 is expected to showcase technological advancements across multiple consumer electronics categories, with a particular emphasis on AI integration and improved computing capabilities. Core hardware innovations: The computing landscape is poised for significant updates with new processor releases and wireless connectivity improvements. Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are preparing to launch new chips focused on enhanced energy efficiency and AI processing capabilities Nvidia is anticipated to unveil its GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs for both desktop and mobile platforms Wi-Fi 7 technology is expected to see broader adoption across devices Display technology trends: The display market continues to evolve, though...
read Dec 20, 2024Meta just released Nymeria, a dataset that captures all the nuances of human motion
The year's long drive to advance wearable technology has created new opportunities for understanding and predicting human body movement, with potential applications ranging from fitness tracking to workplace ergonomics. Dataset Overview: Reality Labs Research has released Nymeria, a groundbreaking dataset containing 300 hours of multimodal egocentric human motion captured in natural settings. The dataset captures diverse individuals performing everyday activities across various locations using Project Aria glasses and miniAria wristbands Twenty predefined unscripted scenarios, including cooking and sports activities, were recorded to ensure comprehensive coverage of daily movements The collection includes detailed language annotations describing human motions at multiple levels...
read Dec 15, 2024Meta hopes its new AI models will make the metaverse even more immersive
Meta's artificial intelligence division has announced several new AI models aimed at enhancing virtual reality experiences and addressing key challenges in digital interaction. Key developments: Meta has unveiled Meta Motivo, an AI model designed to improve the way digital avatars move and interact within virtual environments, alongside other AI innovations. The Meta Motivo model focuses on solving body control problems that have historically made digital avatars appear unrealistic This advancement could enable more natural-looking movements for non-player characters (NPCs) and broaden the possibilities for character animation The technology represents a significant step toward creating more convincing virtual experiences in the...
read Dec 5, 2024Light Field Lab unveils holographic displays that don’t require eyewear
Light Field Lab's breakthrough in holographic display technology marks a significant advancement in creating true three-dimensional images that can be viewed without special eyewear. Key technological breakthrough: Light Field Lab's SolidLight system represents a major advancement in holographic display technology, achieving unprecedented pixel density and real-world image generation capabilities. The system can modulate an impressive 10 billion pixels per square meter by connecting multiple display panels together The technology creates "real images" that change naturally with the viewer's perspective, similar to how we perceive physical objects in space Unlike traditional 3D displays or augmented reality, SolidLight requires no headgear or...
read Dec 4, 2024Apple CEO dismisses OpenAI rumors, discusses vision for AR and saving lives
The recent Wired magazine interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals key strategic insights about Apple's approach to artificial intelligence, environmental commitments, and future technology directions. Key stance on AI partnerships: Tim Cook definitively addressed speculation about Apple's relationship with OpenAI, dispelling rumors about potential investments or board positions. While Cook's exact wording left some room for interpretation, he made it clear that Apple is not currently pursuing formal ties with OpenAI Cook defended Apple's AI timeline, noting the company's early integration of neural engines into products starting in 2017 The CEO indicated that AI features will likely be treated...
read Nov 15, 2024The latest trends in spatial computing, AI glasses and the players behind them
Spatial computing and mixed reality technologies are rapidly evolving, with major tech companies launching new products and features that blend digital experiences with the physical world. Ray-Ban Meta's breakthrough: Meta's latest smart glasses collaboration with Ray-Ban introduces AI-powered voice interactions and computer vision capabilities, marking a significant advancement in wearable technology. The glasses maintain Ray-Ban's signature style while incorporating voice-activated AI features for tasks like translation and information retrieval Meta is promoting the product through experiential retail events in Los Angeles and Phoenix The device connects to smartphones via Bluetooth, though it currently lacks an integrated display Industry competition heats...
read Nov 14, 2024Meta’s AR glasses may get 3 incredibly cool sci-fi features
AR and AI-powered smart glasses are advancing rapidly, with Meta's Project Aria research initiatives revealing promising applications that could eventually make their way into consumer products like the Meta Orion AR glasses. Research foundation and partnerships: Meta's Project Aria serves as a development platform for understanding how to build effective AR and AI-powered glasses of the future. Meta has expanded access to Project Aria to global partners including BMW and numerous academic institutions The research platform helps developers explore both software and hardware requirements for next-generation AR devices Project findings could significantly influence the features implemented in Meta's upcoming Orion...
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