Emerging Trends in Artificial Intelligence-driven Smart Glasses Industry

In the realm of technological advancements, the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly reshaped the landscape of augmented reality (AR) glasses. The once widely-known AR glasses have now metamorphosed into AI-driven smart glasses, thanks to the transformative trend of Generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI) that has taken center stage in the last year and a half.

Major tech corporations have long been engaged in the development of “smart glasses,” with AI at the core of their functionality. Defined as glasses primarily designed to provide quick and easy access to AI functionalities, these AI glasses are on the brink of widespread commercial introduction. Chinese smartphone and tech gadget manufacturer Oppo has showcased its innovation in the field with the unveiling of the Oppo Air Glass 3 at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Leveraging their proprietary genAI technology named AndesGPT, Oppo’s smart glasses offer a multimodal capability, enabling the integrated camera to capture and process images using AndesGPT for identification purposes. Oppo’s glasses stand out with a visual interface in a compact and lightweight design, weighing only about 50 grams – equivalent to approximately two AA alkaline batteries.

Google, too, is gearing up to penetrate the AI glasses market. Following the success of the Google Glasses Enterprise Edition, the tech giant has shifted focus towards smart glasses designed to look like regular eyewear. With an extensive patent portfolio in this domain, Google is poised to compete for a significant market share. Notably, one of Google’s patents addresses the inherent heat issues in AI glasses due to the intense processing activities, such as graphics and AI functions, generating substantial heat in close proximity to the user’s head. Alternatively, Google might opt to license its patents to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for the production of Google AI-supported devices. The driving force behind Google’s foray into AI glasses is the creation of a user interface for LLM-based informational tools to ensure global accessibility.

The race among tech giants to dominate the AI glasses market is fueled by the recognition of potential threats posed by numerous smaller entrants joining the fray. Much like the trajectory of smartphones, AI glasses are following a similar pattern. The proliferation of various components and parts crucial to smartphone development over the past two decades has streamlined market entry for smartphone manufacturers. This trend is only beginning to unfold in the realm of AI glasses.

Recent conversations with Ed Tang, CEO of Avegant, a Silicon Valley-based tech company specializing in creating light field projectors for AR glasses, shed light on the company’s collaborative efforts with AI glasses manufacturers. Avegant aims to design AI glasses that are compact, lightweight, and inconspicuous, resembling traditional eyewear. Through partnerships with chip manufacturer Qualcomm and computer industry giant Applied Materials, Avegant has unveiled the AG-30L2 assembly kit, facilitating the construction and distribution of AI glasses with visual displays. The AG-30L2 part enables a high-resolution bifocal display using small components, crafting transparent displays akin to regular prescription eyeglasses. Weighing merely 2.7 grams, a fraction of the weight of a standard ping pong ball, the AG-30L2 is a key innovation in the AI glasses arena.

At the core of the hardware element lies Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 SoC – the same component powering Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The AR1 boasts an exceptional lightweight design, supporting high-quality graphics, on-device AI, and ensuring rapid connectivity. It boasts a resolution up to 3k per eye, alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 support, with the capacity to handle signals for up to eight microphones. Moreover, ongoing endeavors are focused on enhancing battery longevity, with a patent describing the potential for mini-battery replacement or connection to an external battery pack strapped or carried in a pocket.

Tang emphasized, “We believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be a fundamental driving force behind the application and sale of such devices (AR). You’re not just buying them for a display you can wear. You are buying them because of the value and application they offer. And we believe this is mainly motivated by AI applications.”

With tech companies heavily investing in AI, Avegant is charting the course for a “human-machine interface device that will truly drive the application and AI applications.”

FAQ Section:

1. What are Artificial Intelligence (AI) glasses?
AI glasses are eyewear designed primarily to facilitate quick and easy access to functions and applications based on artificial intelligence.

2. Which corporations are working on AI glasses?
Major tech corporations such as Apple, Google, and Oppo are actively involved in the development of AI glasses.

3. How did Apple reshape the concept of Augmented Reality (AR) glasses?
Apple issued guidelines for developers recommending the description of applications as spatial computing instead of AR, VR, XR, or MR, thereby altering the perception of AR glasses.

4. What are the distinguishing features of Oppo AI glasses?
Oppo AI glasses offer a visual interface in a compact and lightweight design, integrated camera for image capture, and identification capabilities using their proprietary genAI technology, AndesGPT.

5. What are Google’s plans regarding AI glasses?
Google intends to enter the AI glasses market with products that can pass as standard eyeglasses. The company holds a vast patent portfolio in this field and may also license its patents to other manufacturers.

6. Why are tech companies investing heavily in AI glasses?
Tech companies realize the emergence of numerous smaller firms in the AI glasses market as a potential threat, thus competing to gain an edge in this burgeoning field.

7. How is Avegant influencing the development of AI glasses?
Avegant, known for designing light field projectors for AR glasses, is collaborating with AI glasses manufacturers to create compact, lightweight glasses that resemble traditional eyewear. The company is also developing a set of patterns in conjunction with Qualcomm and Applied Materials.

8. What are the key features of Avegant AG-30L2 component?
The Avegant AG-30L2 part enables the display of high-quality images using small components, making it lightweight and convenient to use. It weighs merely 2.7 grams.

9. How is Qualcomm contributing to the development of AI glasses?
Qualcomm has developed the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 SoC powering AI glasses. This component is lightweight, supports high-quality graphics, and ensures fast connectivity. It accommodates resolutions up to 3k per eye, alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

10. Why is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a crucial factor for AI glasses?
Companies such as Apple, Google, and Oppo are leveraging AI as a central element driving the usage and applications of AI glasses for enhanced value and utility.

The source of the article is from the blog rugbynews.at