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Android XR

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Android XR is an extended reality (XR) operating system developed by Google and based on Android. It was announced in December 2024 and will launch in 2025 on a headset manufactured by Samsung and a pair of smartglasses developed by Google DeepMind. It is heavily integrated with the Gemini generative artificial intelligence–powered chatbot.

Google's first foray into the realm of XR—a catch-all term for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR)—was Google Glass, a pair of smartglasses launched in 2013. Following the commercial failure of Glass, Google made other ventures into the space such as the Google Cardboard and Google Daydream VR headsets, neither of which gained traction and were eventually discontinued. In 2021, Google revived its XR efforts with a project internally codenamed Project Iris, an AR headset powered by a new operating system. However, Google shelved the project after Apple outmaneuvered Google by releasing its Vision Pro MR headset in 2023, pivoting to a software-focused strategy. One year later, Google announced Android XR as Project Iris' spiritual successor.

History

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Background

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This section is transcluded from Project Iris § Background. (edit | history)

Google first experimented with the prospect of smartglasses with the introduction of Google Glass in 2013.[1] The product was panned by critics due to privacy and ethical concerns,[2] leading Google to discontinue the consumer-facing model and focus on the enterprise model.[3][4] In May 2019, Google VR/AR head Clay Bavor told CNET that the company was heavily invested in R&D regarding AR devices,[5] while a February 2020 report from The Information revealed that Google had no plans to develop a new pair of augmented reality (AR) smartglasses as of mid-2019, in part due to the highly publicized failure of Glass.[6] In June 2020, Google acquired North, a manufacturer of smartglasses, to assist in its hardware division's vision of ambient computing.[7] Shortly after the acquisition, the company began work on a new pair of AR smartglasses based on North designs,[8] which The New York Times confirmed in December 2021.[9]

In August 2021, following the announcement that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones would feature the custom-developed Tensor system-on-chip (SoC), Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh told Business Insider that he believed that Tensor had long-term potential for AR-powered smartglasses,[10] and was echoed by CEO Sundar Pichai in October.[11] In November, a "Google Labs" division led by Bavor was created to oversee Google's AR and virtual reality (VR) ventures, unrelated to the defunct service of the same name,[12] while development on an AR operating system began the next month for an unknown "innovative AR device", an effort spearheaded by Mark Lucovsky.[13] Meanwhile, Google began work on two custom system-on-chips akin to Tensor, codenamed Alius and Alexandrite, which would power its smartglasses.[8]

Development

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Further information: Project Iris § History

In January 2022, The Verge reported that Google was building an AR headset as part of an effort internally codenamed Project Iris and overseen by Bavor.[14][8] This coincided with Google rival Apple's own initiative to develop a mixed reality (MR) headset.[15] After Apple outmaneuvered Google by unveiling its headset, the Vision Pro, in June 2023, which frustrated employees,[16][8] Business Insider reported that Project Iris had been canceled as part of Google's company-wide cost-cutting measures earlier in the year, which saw mass layoffs and the departure of Bavor.[17][18]

Earlier in 2022, Google executives had grown alarmed by reports on Apple's progress on the Vision Pro, which surpassed their own. The company struck a partnership with Android collaborator Samsung, in which they would develop the software for an MR headset manufactured by Samsung, codenamed Project Moohan. Tensions soon arose between the two companies, with Samsung consolidating its control over the project to prevent Google from building a rival product.[8][17][19] "Moohan" is a reference to the Korean word for infinity.[20] Google also acquired Raxium, an AR hardware startup, for approximately $1 billion in March 2022,[21] which was completed a month later.[22]

After Iris' cancellation, Google shifted its focus from hardware to software, which they hoped to license to third-party manufacturers à la Android.[17][18] Lucovsky left the company and Shahram Izadi assumed leadership of Google's AR division, reporting to Google senior vice president Hiroshi Lockheimer. A new team under Izadi began incorporating Iris' code into a new project codenamed Betty, intended to be part of a "Micro XR" platform that would be pitched to manufacturers. The former Raxium team continued to explore potential AR hardware projects under Greco's supervision, but was reportedly "firewalled" from the Moohan and Betty crews. A Google employee described the situation as "a weird bureaucratic mess".[8][19]

Meanwhile, at the annual Google I/O keynote in May 2024, Google demonstrated a pair of prototype smartglasses powered by Project Astra, a multimodal "AI assistant" from Google DeepMind that uses the Gemini Ultra large language model.[23][24] These smartglasses were visually distinct from the Project Iris prototype demonstrated at I/O two years prior, indicating they were separate projects.[25] In a rare public appearance, Google co-founder Sergey Brin called the glasses "the perfect hardware" for artificial intelligence (AI), acknowledging that Glass had been ahead of its time: "Unfortunately, we sort of messed up on the timing. I sort of wish I timed it a bit better."[26][27] Following the event, Business Insider reported that Google's XR platform would be named Android XR, was targeting an early 2025 launch, and would leverage Raxium's optical technology.[28]

Launch

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Google announced the Android XR operating system on December 12, 2024, in New York City, with plans to launch it on Samsung's Moohan headset the following year. Viewed as the successor to Glass, Cardboard, and Daydream, the operating system was developed in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm and is heavily integrated with Gemini, Google's generative AI–powered chatbot.[20][29][30] In addition to Moohan, Google unveiled the Project Astra smartglasses it had previously demoed, also powered by Android XR and aiming for a 2025 release, though no definite timeline was set for the latter.[30][31] The glasses employ Raxium's microLED technology, allowing for "bright images without using a lot of power".[32][33]

Contrasting Android XR with the Vision Pro, Izadi and Android chief Sameer Samat emphasized the open-platform nature of Google's approach, as opposed to Apple's walled garden strategy.[34][32] Victoria Song of The Verge compared the experience of wearing these glasses to J.A.R.V.I.S., a fictional AI in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,[34] while Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac and Mark Gurman of Bloomberg News noted Moohan's visual resemblance to the Vision Pro.[35][32] Several journalists who attended the announcement reflected on Google's decade-long journey from Glass to the present day.[30][33][36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Goldman, David (April 4, 2012). "Google unveils 'Project Glass' virtual-reality glasses". CNN Money. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Arthur, Charles (March 3, 2013). "Google Glass: is it a threat to our privacy?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Luckerson, Victor (January 15, 2015). "Google Will Stop Selling Glass Next Week". Time. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Savov, Vlad (July 18, 2017). "Google Glass gets a second chance in factories, where it's likely to remain". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Stein, Scott (May 7, 2019). "Google won't release an Oculus Quest VR competitor anytime soon". CNET. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Bastone, Nick (February 14, 2020). "As Apple and Facebook Embrace AR Fully, Google Takes It Slow". The Information. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  7. ^ Bursztynsky, Jessica (June 30, 2021). "Google acquires North, which makes smart glasses similar to Google Glass". CNBC. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Langley, Hugh (August 22, 2023). "Google's augmented-reality dream turned into chaos. Insiders say constant pivots are delaying its master plan to chase Apple". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Metz, Cade (December 30, 2021). "Everybody Into the Metaverse! Virtual Reality Beckons Big Tech". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Eadicicco, Lisa (August 2, 2021). "Google wants its new chip to totally transform the smartphone. Its hardware chief tells us how". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Li, Abner (October 26, 2021). "Sundar Pichai says Google hardware & platform teams are 'thinking through' AR". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  12. ^ Perez, Sarah (November 11, 2021). "Google reorg moves AR, VR, Starline and Area 120 into new 'Labs' team". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  13. ^ Porter, Jon (December 14, 2021). "Google staffs up to build OS for unknown 'innovative AR device'". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Heath, Alex (January 20, 2022). "Google is building an AR headset". The Verge. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Mickle, Tripp; Chen, Brian (June 4, 2022). "Apple Starts Connecting the Dots for Its Next Big Thing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  16. ^ Fowler, Geoffrey (June 5, 2023). "Apple unveils Vision Pro, its $3,499 augmented-reality headset". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c Langley, Hugh (June 26, 2023). "Google killed its Iris augmented-reality smart glasses as it shifts attention to building AR software". Business Insider. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Hollister, Sean (June 27, 2023). "Google has reportedly killed its Project Iris augmented reality glasses". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Amadeo, Ron (August 23, 2023). ""Project Moohan" is Google and Samsung's inevitable Apple Vision Pro clone". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Velazco, Chris (December 12, 2024). "Google and Samsung's first AI face computer to arrive next year". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Sisco, Josh; Nellis, Stephen; Olson, Mathew; Krouse, Sarah (March 16, 2022). "Google Buys Hardware Startup Raxium to Fuel AR Ambitions". The Information. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  22. ^ Trueman, Charlotte (May 5, 2022). "Google acquires Raxium in augmented reality push". Computerworld. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  23. ^ Morris, Stephen; Murgia, Madhumita (May 14, 2024). "Google advances AI vision with launch of Project Astra assistant". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Knight, Will (May 14, 2024). "Project Astra Is Google's 'Multimodal' Answer to the New ChatGPT". Wired. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  25. ^ Altchek, Ana (May 15, 2024). "Sergey Brin says Google was 10 years too early with Google Glass — but they'd be perfect for AI". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Alba, Davey; Ghaffary, Shirin (May 14, 2024). "Google Executives Hint That AR Glasses Are Poised for a Comeback". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  27. ^ Langley, Hugh (July 12, 2024). "Google revamps its ambitions for AR glasses to make up lost ground and stem defectors to Meta". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  28. ^ Pierce, David (December 12, 2024). "Google announces Android XR, a new OS for headsets and smart glasses". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Chokkattu, Julian (December 12, 2024). "Hands On With Android XR and Google's AI-Powered Smart Glasses". Wired. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  30. ^ Zeff, Maxwell (December 12, 2024). "Google wants to sell those Project Astra AR glasses some day, but it won't be today". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c Gurman, Mark (December 12, 2024). "Google Unveils Mixed-Reality Headset With Samsung, Taking on Apple and Meta". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  32. ^ a b Li, Abner (December 12, 2024). "One day... realized: Hands-on with Google's Android XR glasses". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Song, Victoria (December 12, 2024). "I saw Google's plan to put Android on your face". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  34. ^ Christoffel, Ryan (December 12, 2024). "This Vision Pro clone from Samsung and Google is good news for Apple users". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  35. ^ Eaton, Kit (December 12, 2024). "Google Hints at a Return to the Smart Glasses Game". Inc. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
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