Google’s vision for augmented reality has not been foggy lately, as its AR division struggles with layoffs, organisational changes, and the departure of top executives like Clay Bavor and Mark Luckoswy. And the consequences can be seen. Apparently, Project Iris, the glass-shaped AR headset with real-time translation shown last year, has been shelved. Google was also working on a second pair of AR headset in partnership with Samsung, but now the future looks grim for that one, too.
The headset, rumoredly called “Project Moohan” internally, has become a “political headache” for Google, sources familiar with the development told Insider. Google is concerned that Samsung may dominate the product features and limit knowledge sharing with Google’s other hardware divisions due to fear of competition.
The headset under development is said to offer a mixed-reality experience powered by the Android platform. It has reportedly been in development since at least last year. Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm are all working together on creating a mixed-reality platform.
Another report suggests Samsung is starting to take control of the project and has delayed production following Apple’s Vision Pro reveal. According to Insider, Google employees think they do not have enough time to make the device stand out against the Vision Pro, even though the reveal stands delayed and would not possibly happen anytime before mid-2024.
Google’s vision for augmented reality
Some current and former Google employees have expressed frustration that the company did not show the same level of commitment and lost its lead. Some believe that Google’s reduction in spending last year and a push towards AI hampered its AR projects.
Despite all that going on within its AR division, Google is not giving up on augmented reality. Apart from Project Iris, and its collaboration with Samsung, Google is exploring ways to incorporate AI with its AR glasses and is using Iris’ software for a project called Betty, which it plans to use as the building block for the “Micro XR” software that will be pitched to OEMs as the software for their glasses.
According to Insider, Betty may be monocular, which means the wearer would only see the image on one lens, much like the Google Glass. Although there is another project at work, codenamed Barry, will use both lenses.
Google has told employees that the company plans to ship these two devices by 2025 at the earliest, though Google still does not have a manufacturing partner for them.
The headset, rumoredly called “Project Moohan” internally, has become a “political headache” for Google, sources familiar with the development told Insider. Google is concerned that Samsung may dominate the product features and limit knowledge sharing with Google’s other hardware divisions due to fear of competition.
The headset under development is said to offer a mixed-reality experience powered by the Android platform. It has reportedly been in development since at least last year. Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm are all working together on creating a mixed-reality platform.
Another report suggests Samsung is starting to take control of the project and has delayed production following Apple’s Vision Pro reveal. According to Insider, Google employees think they do not have enough time to make the device stand out against the Vision Pro, even though the reveal stands delayed and would not possibly happen anytime before mid-2024.
Google’s vision for augmented reality
Some current and former Google employees have expressed frustration that the company did not show the same level of commitment and lost its lead. Some believe that Google’s reduction in spending last year and a push towards AI hampered its AR projects.
Despite all that going on within its AR division, Google is not giving up on augmented reality. Apart from Project Iris, and its collaboration with Samsung, Google is exploring ways to incorporate AI with its AR glasses and is using Iris’ software for a project called Betty, which it plans to use as the building block for the “Micro XR” software that will be pitched to OEMs as the software for their glasses.
According to Insider, Betty may be monocular, which means the wearer would only see the image on one lens, much like the Google Glass. Although there is another project at work, codenamed Barry, will use both lenses.
Google has told employees that the company plans to ship these two devices by 2025 at the earliest, though Google still does not have a manufacturing partner for them.
