Citing “years of investment in AI, AR and VR,” Google is re-entering the augmented reality market with Android XR. It's an operating system that Google says will power future headsets and glasses that will “transform the way you look, work and explore.”
The first version you'll see is Project Moohan, a mixed reality headset from Samsung. It will be available for purchase next year, not much more is known about it. Developers now have access to the new XR version of Android.
“We've been in this space since Google Glass and haven't stopped,” said Juston Payne, Google's product director for XR, in the Android XR introductory video. Citing established projects like Google Lens, Live View for maps, instant camera translation, and of course Google's general-purpose AI Gemini, XR promises to offer such overlays in both dedicated headsets and casual glasses.
Android XR announcement video.
There are currently few additional details beyond a headset rendering, examples in Google's video labeled “Visualization for Concept Purposes.” Google's list of things that will likely be on board includes Gemini, Maps, Photos, Translate, Chrome, Circle to Search, and Messages. And existing Android apps, or at least those that have been updated accordingly, should also make the jump.