When the Google Glass was consigned to a life completely outside of the public eye, there was always a hope that it would make a comeback at some point. We saw a glimpse of that last month when the internet search giant demoed an Android XR device at a TED Talk, and following its I/O event, the company reveals that the smart eyewear will be returning. During the event, the company announced that it will be partnering with eyewear brands to do that.
Brands like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker were specifically mentioned, with more brands like Kering Eyewear to join later. This means that said brands will have glasses equipped with a camera, microphones and speakers. These also connect to your phone, and allow you the Google Gemini experience without having to pull said phone out of your pocket. Though oddly enough, the in-lens display is described as optional.
The live demo that was part of the event indicated that there will be a light that turns on when the Android XR device is recording, which may answer some privacy questions. Emphasis on some, as it’s overall pretty similar to what Meta has going on with Ray-Ban, flavour of AI aside. Beyond that, most of the demo is reminiscent of the TED Talk from earlier.
Google also announced that the Samsung-made Project Moohan will be available later this year, but no specific date was mentioned. Following up on that, AR eyewear company Xreal announced Project Aura, noted as the second official Android XR device. But rather than being a headset, this is instead a tethered pair of glasses with Gemini built in. Details are sparse, but company spokesperson Ralph Jodice told The Verge that more will be revealed at the Augmented World Expo next month.
(Source: Google [1], [2], The Verge)
