Latest news with #spatialcomputing
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Forbes
Spatial Computing Takes The Lead For Apple At WWDC 25
Apple is touting the new multi-user and enterprise capabilities for VisionOS 26. Apple While everyone was focused on the big improvements to iPad OS's multitasking at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple snuck some of the most significant improvements into VisionOS. Not only that, but it also revealed that the new Liquid Glass design principle that will span all of its operating systems is inspired by VisionOS . I say this is probably the biggest announcement because I believe it will enable Apple and developers to build apps that are inherently more portable to spatial computing. I would also argue that many of the announcements Apple made at WWDC outside of VisionOS found it catching up with the competition rather than breaking new ground. That's why its spatial computing announcements for VisionOS are so important; they potentially set Apple up as a leader in the space going forward. Spatial widgets don't seem like a big deal until you realize how they change the ground rules of Apple's spatial computing UI. These are persistent widgets that stay anchored where you leave them, which enables you to create a truly spatial computing environment that persists until you say otherwise. Besides immediately improving usability, this means that users can customize their spatial computing experiences in any way they like — while also enabling developers to build toward very specific user experiences. I think that Apple making spatial widgets its own kind of applet will also encourage experimentation and likely create a new class of persistent spatial computing applications. Personas are Apple's way of creating virtual avatars for users while they are wearing their headsets; they enable users to be virtually present with a high-quality scan of their faces. Apple's initial launch of this feature was a bit rough around the edges and had some quality issues, but I would say that its second go with VisionOS 2 was a huge improvement. This next-generation upgrade to Personas has made them nearly photorealistic, and I would say this function has gone beyond the uncanny valley that has plagued most of these digital avatars. While I haven't had a chance to redo my Persona and experience this change myself, many of my friends have, and I must say that I'm truly impressed by how accurately their Personas depict them. Some people have also commented that this is the first time we've seen Apple executives like marketing chief Greg Joswiak post their own Personas online, indicating a level of confidence that had not yet been seen. While Sony's PlayStation VR2 could be considered a failure for many reasons, it does seem that Apple has decided to potentially breathe some life into that ecosystem. Apple's new support for PlayStation VR2 controllers enables developers to finally bring games requiring controllers to VisionOS and the Apple Vision Pro headset. Currently, the Vision Pro and VisionOS work only via hand tracking, which is great for lots of things — but not necessarily gaming. While porting a PSVR2 game to Vision Pro may not be the most straightforward thing, there may be opportunities for other games to come to VisionOS thanks to these controllers. And if you're anything like me and feel guilty for your underutilized PSVR2 purchase, this might be a great way to make more use of the controllers. This is also the first time that Sony ever offered the controllers separately from the headset, so you don't need to buy a whole PSVR2 kit to use the controllers with the Vision Pro. In addition to the PSVR2 controllers, Apple also announced support for the new Logitech Muse for spatial content creation. The Muse is Logitech's stylus for spatial computing, specifically designed for VisionOS and the Vision Pro. One of my favorite features in VisionOS 2 was the 2-D to 3-D conversion tool for literally any image. It is still one of my most-used features, and I still regard it as borderline magical for how it works. In the new VisionOS 26 — note the shift to Apple's new year-by-year naming schema — Apple is adding 'spatial scenes,' which take this conversion to an entirely new level. This feature uses Gaussian splats that create immersive 3-D scenes that incorporate more than one 3-D perspective. I believe that Apple is leaning even harder into the success of the 2-D/3-D feature, and that spatial scenes will enable VisionOS to become an even more content-rich platform. I believe this is so important because every spatial platform has suffered from a lack of content since the beginning of time. Speaking of content, VisionOS 26 will also add support for wider-FoV content including 180-degree and 360-degree images from GoPro, Insta360 and Canon. This should make it even easier to bring existing content to VisionOS and encourage more content creators to consider these platforms as the defaults for Apple. That said, these three camera companies have been the defaults for the industry for quite some time, so it's great to see Apple recognizing this and supporting them. I'm excited to see how some of my Insta360 footage shot in 360-degree format over the last few years looks on the Vision Pro. I know that it's not quite the 8K content that the Insta360 One X5 can shoot, but it's still pretty good-looking nonetheless, and the images are still very high-resolution (72MP). Enterprise Features To Address Privacy And Spatial Sharing While Apple did announce a slew of enterprise APIs such as the Protected Content API, there is also an 'eyes only' mode that brings even more privacy protections. While the added security and privacy features are welcome, the enterprise space is also highly collaborative, which is why it's great to see Apple finally addressing sharing in the context of spatial computing. This means that users can finally share spatial content and experiences, whether we're talking about professional applications or 3-D movies and games. What I like to see is that people can also collaborate on projects while adding remote participants via FaceTime. I expect that enterprise users will also appreciate the new ability to pair all these capabilities with additional enterprise license management features such as Vision Entitlement Services to streamline license status checks and app approvals. VisionOS 26 And MacOS Introduce Better External Device Support Last but certainly not least, Apple has brought the Mac and iPhone closer to the Vision Pro with VisionOS 26. For one thing, a user can finally unlock their iPhone while wearing the Vision Pro, even inside fully immersive experiences. This was one of my biggest pet peeves while using the Vision Pro, which has the most accurate eye-tracking available and uses iris scans for authentication — so it shouldn't introduce any friction unlocking my iPhone while I have my headset on. Thanks to VisionOS 26, that is now true. The VisionOS update also supports allowing phone calls to come into the headset through the iPhone so a user no longer needs to take off the headset to answer a call. There also appears to be enhanced support for streaming applications from MacOS with spatial rendering. I believe that this reflects Apple's approach to wireless VR connectivity with MacOS, using the Mac for compute and the Vision Pro as the display. With MacOS now supporting Steam natively on Apple Silicon, we could potentially see all kinds of VR applications becoming available on MacOS/Vision Pro. This is especially important considering that Apple is going to sunset support for Intel-based Macs and will cease Rosetta 2 support after macOS 27. Apple's VisionOS 26 summary bento box of the latest updates Apple The Importance Of VisionOS For Apple, And The Importance Of AI For VisionOS While lots of people have criticized many of Apple's moves with iOS 26 and the Liquid Glass design (which Apple has already dialed back in the latest iOS 26 Beta), I think a lot of people outside of the spatial computing world missed how seriously Apple is taking VisionOS. If anything should be learned from VisionOS 26, it is that Apple has shown its unwavering commitment to the platform — and its investment in the platform isn't going away anytime soon. Sure, plenty of people have critiques of the Vision Pro, which in my opinion tend to be slightly premature. The reality is that Apple is showing that the Vision Pro is very much a development platform for the improvements it wants to make with VisionOS. Rumor has it that Apple's next headset will be lighter, faster and cheaper than the Vision Pro. If that headset is coming to market anytime soon, it will benefit greatly from the last year and a half of improvements to VisionOS. Mind you, Apple still has plenty of room for further improvement in terms of how AI is integrated into VisionOS, but that is unfortunately a broader problem for Apple's AI strategy connected to its troubles with Siri's generative AI relaunch. I believe that Apple will eventually work out these challenges, but I also feel sure that having a subpar AI experience in an XR platform can only hurt that platform's growth potential. There is no doubt in my mind that AI and XR are highly complementary technologies and potentially even act as catalysts for each other's growth. While I welcome many of Apple's VisionOS 26 improvements with open arms and commend Apple's commitment to XR, I still think Apple needs to get competitive on AI, whether that's from an acquisition or by accelerating current development. This will be especially important if the company wants to ship AI smart glasses — which are heavily dependent on quality AI performance and accuracy — to compete with the likes of Meta and Google. Moor Insights & Strategy provides or has provided paid services to technology companies, like all tech industry research and analyst firms. These services include research, analysis, advising, consulting, benchmarking, acquisition matchmaking and video and speaking sponsorships. Of the companies mentioned in this article, Moor Insights & Strategy currently has (or has had) a paid business relationship with Google, Intel, Meta and Sony.
Associated Press
24-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Inair by Inair Design Team Wins Platinum in A' Wearable Technology Awards
Innovative AR Spatial Computing Device Recognized for Exceptional Design and Functionality in Prestigious International Competition COMO, CO, ITALY, June 24, 2025 / / -- Inair, a groundbreaking AR spatial computing device designed by Inair Design Team, has been awarded the prestigious Platinum A' Design Award in the Wearable Technologies Design category. The A' Design Award is a highly respected and well-recognized award in the field of wearable technology design, celebrating exceptional products that showcase innovation, functionality, and superior design. The Platinum A' Design Award for Inair highlights the device's relevance to current trends and needs within the wearable technology industry. By seamlessly blending a virtual workspace into a lightweight headset and main unit, Inair offers a portable and immersive experience that aligns with the growing demand for efficient remote work solutions and enhanced productivity tools. Inair stands out in the market with its refined ergonomics, intuitive spatial interactions, and cutting-edge multimodal AI recognition. The device features a customized operating system interface that enables systematic application arrangement and dynamic management, optimizing workflow and user experience. The integration of BirdBath optical technology delivers an immersive large-screen experience, while the innovative Pod host supports natural and intuitive spatial ray and touch interaction. This recognition from the A' Design Awards serves as a testament to Inair Design Team's commitment to pushing the boundaries of wearable technology design. The award not only validates the excellence of Inair but also inspires the team to continue exploring innovative solutions that enhance productivity and redefine the future of work. Team Members The Inair design team consists of Qi Jingxuan as the Design Director, Wang Haoheng leading Experience Design, Zhang Tianru responsible for Visual Design, and Xu Changming overseeing Industrial Design. Together, they collaborated to create this award-winning AR spatial computing device. Interested parties may learn more about Inair and its award-winning design at the A' Design Awards website: About Inair Design Team Jingxuan Qi is a multidisciplinary designer based in Beijing, specializing in product design, brand visuals, and user experience. Continuously exploring the intersection of technology and aesthetics, Qi is dedicated to solving real-world problems through design and creating emotionally resonant work. The Inair Design Team, led by Qi, has provided design solutions for various domestic and international brands, covering consumer electronics, lifestyle products, and innovative concept development. About Inair INAIR is an AR glasses brand under China Duopingweilai Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., dedicated to providing consumers with next-generation all-in-one mobile office solutions. The company's flagship product, INAIR Pro, is an AR glasses designed specifically for mobile business professionals, featuring an ergonomic design, ultra-wide field of view, and a virtual surround screen. INAIR Pro supports seamless file transfers, cross-terminal data synchronization, and direct PC and smartphone integration, enhancing the user experience and productivity. About Platinum A' Design Award The Platinum A' Design Award recognizes designs that exemplify exceptional creativity and innovation in the field of wearable technologies. Recipients of this award have demonstrated remarkable proficiency in areas such as user interface design, integration with existing devices, health and fitness applications, ease of use, and aesthetic appeal. The rigorous selection process involves blind peer review by an expert jury panel of design professionals, industry experts, journalists, and academics, ensuring that only the most outstanding and impactful designs receive this prestigious recognition. About A' Design Award The A' Design Award is an international and juried design competition that has been recognizing and promoting superior products and projects since 2008. Organized across all industries, the competition welcomes entries from visionary designers, innovative agencies, forward-thinking companies, and influential brands worldwide. By participating in the A' Design Award, entrants have the opportunity to showcase their creativity, gain global exposure, and contribute to advancing their respective fields. The ultimate aim of the A' Design Award is to create a better world by celebrating and promoting exceptional design that positively impacts society. Interested parties may learn more about the A' Design Awards, explore jury members, view past laureates, and participate with their projects at Makpal Bayetova A' DESIGN AWARD & COMPETITION SRL +39 031 497 2900 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
AUGMENTED WORLD EXPO REVEALS 2025 AUGGIE AWARD WINNERS, BEST IN SHOW AND XR LEGENDS
AWE Celebrates Innovation and Legacy in an Unforgettable Milestone for the XR Industry LONG BEACH, Calif., June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Augmented World Expo USA 2025 is a wrap! The world's largest event for XR and spatial computing concluded today with the announcement of BEST IN SHOW winners: Best in Show – Snap Inc. Best in Show Playground – Anywhere Bungee VR Best in Show Gaming Hub – TRIP THE LIGHT by Dark Arts Software The winners for the Virtual World Society Nextant Prizes, presented by Tom Furness and Alvin Graylin, are: Rising Star Prize – Danny Pimentel Legacy Prize – Jaron Lanier The XR industry is also celebrating a new lineup of champions. The Auggie Awards have been the most recognized XR and spatial computing industry awards in the world since 2010. Now in their 16th year, the Auggies continue to showcase the best of the best. 20 of the world's most innovative and game-changing developers, brands and creators were recognized with Auggie Awards. See the full list below. In addition,10 pioneers of XR were celebrated by the 2025 XR Hall of Fame, recognizing their lasting contributions to the field. The full list of inductees can be viewed here. AWE USA 2025 was packed with exciting news from exhibitors including Snap, Qualcomm, Niantic Spatial, XREAL, Lenovo and more. See highlights of announcements from the show — here. The Auggie Award winners are….. Best Art or Film – Non-Player Character Musical by Brendan Bradley: The first live, interactive VR musical, debuting with 24 shows at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Video here. Best Campaign – OREO X PAC-MAN SUPERMARCADE by ARKx | Form & Fun |Saatchi & Saatchi Germany: AR shopping experience turning supermarket aisles into a Pac-Man maze, combining digital fun with physical retail via WebAR. Video here. Best Climate Change Solution – Burn Zone: Immersive Truths from California's Wildfires by Lucid Reality Labs: VR experience immersing viewers in the Los Angeles wildfires, fostering empathy and action through an exploration of environmental devastation and climate adaptation. Video here. Best Collaboration Tool – Campfire: A platform for sharing 3D models in life-size spatial environments, enabling real-time collaboration for faster feedback, fewer errors, and quicker product delivery. Video here. Best Consumer App – Pencil! by 4th Wall Breakers: AR-powered drawing app that blends real paper and pencils with mixed-reality lessons, making learning drawing skills fun and easy for all levels. Video here. Best Content Creator(s) – Dilmer Valecillos XR YouTube Channel by Learn XR LLC: Resource for XR developers, offering tutorials and deep dives into AR/VR tools, simplifying complex tech into practical content that empowers a global community and highlights the latest innovations. Video here. Best Creator & Authoring Tool – Niantic Studio: 8th Wall's web-based visual editor lets anyone build and deploy immersive AR/XR experiences with real-time editing, drag-and-drop tools, and advanced features—no coding or app needed. Video here. Best Developer Tool – Lens Studio by Snap Inc: Free AR authoring platform used by 375,000+ creators to design and deploy custom AR experiences across Snapchat, websites, apps, and Spectacles, featuring tools like Ray Tracing, Snap ML, and Lens Cloud. Video here. Best Education & Training Solution – XR Guru Healthcare Pathways Training by XR Guru: AI-powered VR training platform offering immersive, language-supported healthcare courses for CNA, LPN, and nursing licensure, featuring critical thinking exercises and patient simulations. Video here. Best Enterprise Solution – Cactus by Auki Labs - Spatial AI for Retail by Auki Labs: A spatial AI solution that optimizes shelf space, workforce management, and operations, providing real-time insights and integrating with robots and AI to revolutionize retail. Video here. Best Game or Toy – Spatial Ops by Resolution Games: A groundbreaking multiplayer shooter that turns real-world spaces into dynamic battlefields, blending physical and digital realities with customizable arenas and immersive game modes like Free-for-All and Capture the Flag. Video here. Best Headworn Device – XREAL One Series by XREAL: Pioneering cinematic AR glasses with next-gen 3DoF spatial computing, Bose sound, and an optional 6DoF camera, setting a new standard in AR with exceptional visual and audio performance. Video here. Best Healthcare & Wellness Solution – Fundamental Surgery by FundamentalVR: Multimodal spatial computing platform transforming vision care and surgical training with immersive simulations and real-time multi-user capabilities to train clinicians in sight-restoring procedures, improving global healthcare outcomes. Video here. Best Indie Creator(s) – Ferryman Collective: VR theatre company redefining live performance with award-winning productions like The Severance Theory and Gumball Dreams, earning accolades at festivals like Tribeca, SXSW, and Venice. Video here. Best Interaction Product – Omni One by Virtuix Inc: Immersive entertainment system combining a specialized treadmill, standalone VR headset, and game store access, with wireless SteamVR connection for an expanded gaming experience. Video here. Best Location-Based Entertainment – AR in Google Maps for Paris Olympics by Rock Paper Reality & Google: AR experience embedding 3D models of Paris landmarks into Google Maps, offering immersive, geospatial explorations via Google Lens and Street View, revolutionizing location-based AR. Video here. Best Societal Impact – Sign Language Translator by Frame Sixty, LLC: Real-time sign language translation app for Apple Vision Pro that instantly converts sign language into speech and text, enabling seamless communication between Deaf and hearing individuals. Video here. Best Use of AI – Medical AI Agent by Lucid Reality Labs: AI-driven training solution featuring a digital twin of Dr. Patrick Schoettker, offering real-time expert feedback and immersive XR simulations to enhance healthcare education and reduce errors. Video here. Best Web3 Implementation – The Posemesh by Auki Labs by Auki Labs: A decentralized machine perception network using Auki Network and Posemesh to enable privacy-preserving spatial computing, powering collaborative mapping for XR and robotics. Video here. Start Up to Watch – Verse Immersive by Enklu MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected] View original content: SOURCE AWE (Augmented World Expo)
Geeky Gadgets
10-06-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
visionOS 26 for Apple Vision Pro Brings New Spatial Experiences (WWDC 2025)
At WWDC 2025 Apple has introduced visionOS 26, a major update for the Apple Vision Pro, featuring enhanced spatial computing capabilities, immersive experiences, and expanded developer tools. The update includes spatial widgets, lifelike Personas, generative AI-powered spatial scenes, and new enterprise-focused APIs. It also supports advanced content playback, gaming controllers, and collaboration tools, further expanding the Vision Pro's functionality for personal, professional, and entertainment use. One of the standout features of visionOS 26 is the introduction of spatial widgets, which seamlessly integrate digital elements into the user's physical environment. These widgets, including Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos, adapt to the user's surroundings and reappear in the same location when the Vision Pro is used again. visionOS 26 Users can customize the frame width, color, and depth of these widgets, tailoring them to their preferences and needs. This functionality creates a more personalized and contextually relevant experience, effectively blurring the boundaries between digital and physical spaces. By making information more accessible and visually integrated into real-world environments, spatial widgets enhance both productivity and convenience. Enhanced Personas: Realistic Virtual Interactions VisionOS 26 introduces enhanced Personas, offering more lifelike virtual representations for digital communication. Using volumetric rendering and machine learning, these avatars now feature sharper details, full side profiles, and customizable glasses. This improvement significantly enhances the realism of virtual interactions, particularly in applications like FaceTime. By providing a more engaging and authentic experience, Apple is redefining how users connect and communicate in digital spaces, making virtual interactions feel more natural and immersive. Watch this video on YouTube. Spatial Scenes: Immersive Content Creation with Generative AI Generative AI plays a pivotal role in visionOS 26, allowing the creation of spatial scenes that add depth and perspective to static images. This feature is integrated into native apps such as Photos and Safari, allowing users to transform traditional media into immersive experiences. Additionally, Apple has extended this capability to third-party developers through the Spatial Scene API, encouraging the development of innovative applications. By pushing the boundaries of content creation and consumption, visionOS 26 offers users new ways to engage with media, enriching the overall experience of digital storytelling. Shared Spatial Experiences: Collaboration Without Boundaries Collaboration receives a significant boost with the introduction of shared spatial experiences. This feature allows multiple Vision Pro users to work or enjoy entertainment together, whether they are in the same physical space or connected remotely via FaceTime. For instance, the Dassault Systèmes 3DLive app enables real-time collaborative 3D design visualization, streamlining teamwork on complex projects. This capability highlights Apple's commitment to fostering seamless collaboration across both professional and personal contexts, breaking down barriers to teamwork and shared experiences. Advanced Media Playback: Expanding Immersive Entertainment VisionOS 26 enhances the Vision Pro's media playback capabilities, supporting 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide field-of-view content. This functionality is compatible with devices such as Insta360, GoPro, and Canon, allowing users to experience media in a more immersive way. Developers can integrate these playback features into their apps and websites, broadening the scope of immersive content available to users. This update caters to both content creators and consumers, enriching the Vision Pro's entertainment ecosystem and solidifying its appeal as a versatile media platform. Gaming Enhancements: Precision Meets Immersion Gaming on the Vision Pro is elevated with support for the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller, which offers precise motion tracking, touch detection, and vibration feedback. These features deliver a deeply immersive gaming experience, aligning the Vision Pro with established gaming platforms. By integrating with popular gaming hardware, Apple is positioning the Vision Pro as a competitive option for gamers seeking high-quality, immersive gameplay. This move underscores Apple's efforts to expand its presence in the gaming industry while enhancing the overall user experience. Enterprise Tools: Security and Productivity VisionOS 26 introduces several features tailored to enterprise users, focusing on security and productivity. New APIs enable secure content sharing and team device management, while personalized settings for shared Vision Pro devices improve workplace efficiency. The addition of the Logitech Muse accessory provides precise input for collaboration apps, further supporting professional use cases. These tools demonstrate Apple's commitment to addressing the needs of enterprise customers, making sure that the Vision Pro is a valuable asset in professional environments. Usability and Accessibility: A More Inclusive Experience VisionOS 26 includes a range of usability enhancements aimed at improving accessibility for a diverse audience. The 'Look to Scroll' feature simplifies navigation by allowing eye-based interaction, while a redesigned Control Center introduces functionalities such as Guest User and Travel Mode. Integration with iPhone allows users to unlock the Vision Pro and relay calls seamlessly. Additionally, the Home View now supports app folders, offering better organization and ease of use. Expanded language support, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish, ensures that the Vision Pro is accessible to a global audience, further broadening its appeal. Setting a New Standard in Immersive Technology VisionOS 26 represents a comprehensive evolution of Apple's Vision Pro headset, combining innovative technologies with practical tools for collaboration, content playback, and gaming. By integrating spatial computing, generative AI, and volumetric rendering, Apple continues to push the boundaries of AR and MR innovation. This update addresses the diverse needs of individual users and enterprises alike, reinforcing Apple's position as a leader in immersive technology. With visionOS 26, the Vision Pro is poised to redefine how users interact with digital content, collaborate with others, and experience entertainment in both personal and professional contexts. Find more information on Spatial Computing by browsing our extensive range of articles, guides and tutorials. Filed Under: Apple, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Curtain Raiser: AWE 2025 Brings XR Into The Mainstream
The room was packed for Ori Inbar's keynote. Augmented World Expo (AWE) returns to Long Beach from June 10 to 12, 2025, with its most expansive and ambitious edition to date. Now in its 16th year, the XR industry's flagship conference will host over 5,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors, and a speaker lineup that reads like a who's who of immersive tech. As the spatial computing and AI worlds collide, AWE 2025 promises to be a milestone event in the evolution of real-world XR adoption. Ori Inbar, AWE co-founder and CEO, celebrates his 15th annual keynote on stage at AWE 2024. This year's theme: XR is going mainstream. 'The hardware is good enough, the tools are mature, and AI has lowered the barrier to entry,' AWE co-founder Ori Inbar said during a recent interview on the AI/XR Podcast. 'There's no excuse now. It's a call to builders to create content for every person on this planet.' Collage of people on the Expo floor. AWE 2025 reflects that shift with expanded programming across the board. For the first time, both the conference and expo floor will run for a full three days, preceded by hackathons and a welcome party. Meta, Snap, Niantic, Google, Qualcomm, and XREAL are all sending top executives. Evan Spiegel (Snap), Nolan Bushnell (Atari), and Palmer Luckey (Anduril) headline a packed keynote slate. Shots from AWE Expo 2021. The show will spotlight three subcommunities shaping the future of XR. The new 'Builder's Nexus' showcases top teams from this year's global hackathons, many of whom are using generative AI tools to build spatial experiences. A dedicated 'Gaming Hub' will feature trailers and live demos from 10 VR studios, plus appearances by top content creators like Nacy, Nathie, and SadlyItsBradley. Enterprise XR, which now represents 71% of the market, will be served by a bespoke VIP program tailored to verticals such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and defense. 'We used to ask what the killer app for XR would be,' said Inbar. 'Now we realize it's AI itself—and vice versa. XR is the killer interface for AI.' Montage of attendees experiencing XR at AWE 2024. The synergy is most visible on the show floor, where nearly every exhibitor will feature some AI integration. Over 20 eyewear companies will be demoing headsets, glasses, and AI assistants. Snap's next-generation Spectacles will be out in force, worn by hundreds of developers. Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which sold over 500,000 units in Q1 alone, signal a tipping point for mainstream wearable adoption. And as always, AWE's Playground will serve as the festival's beating heart. Larger-than-life installations and interactive demos, including an expanded version of Brett Bushnell's 'Dream Park,' will draw crowds eager to experience the next frontier of computing. Trying out the HoloLens at AWE 2017. For newcomers and veterans alike, AWE remains the must-attend event for anyone working at the intersection of immersive media, AI, and real-world application. 'You get a master's degree in XR in three days,' said AR Insider's Mike Boland . 'There's nothing else like it.' AWE 2025 may not mark the beginning of the XR era—but it might be remembered as the year it stopped being a niche. Here is a quick preview of some brands and experiences at the show this year. Niantic founder and CEO John Hanke. Niantic Spatial, a newly created company spun out from Niantic Labs, is making a significant debut, with news of three important new partnerships, an invite-only geospatial AI agent and outdoor VPS demo. At its lounge area Niantic Spatial will offer 12 cutting-edge demos highlighting enterprise use cases for spatial technology in warehousing, spatial planning, and immersive entertainment. Brian McClendon will also be delivering a keynote. At Qualcomm's booth, attendees can check out MR & AR demos spanning various sectors, including entertainment, education, fitness and more. In addition, Ziad Asghar, SVP & GM of XR at Qualcomm will present a keynote titled, Accelerating the Spatial Computing Revolution for Developers and Enterprise. He'll showcase how Qualcomm is powering the AI smart glass revolution and driving the technology necessary for AI glasses to be a stand-alone product with processing done all on-device, and he'll highlight and demonstrate its technology leadership across the spectrum of spatial computing, enabling the experiences accessible today and building future proof solutions for the future. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Snap Inc Evan Spiegel (R) and France's Secretary of State ... More for AI and Digital Technology Clara Chappaz (L) wear the Spectacle Augmented Reality glasses during the inauguration of the group's French headquarters in Paris on May 19, 2025. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP) (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images) AWE attendees are invited to explore the latest Snap Spectacles activations on the second floor of Long Beach Convention Center, available throughout the event. Snap CEO and Co-Founder Evan Spiegel will take to the Main Stage on Day 1 with exciting new announcements about Snap's AR developer platform, and there will be other Snap talks throughout the show. Xreal founder and CEO speaking at Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, CA, June 2023. XREAL will be showing its new smart glasses—Project Aura—designed specifically for the Android XR platform, for the first time anywhere. It will also be demoing the ultra-popular XREAL One Series AR glasses with spatial computing capabilities. Also available for demo will be the XREAL EYE, a modular camera attachment for the One Series. Sony XYN (/zin/) will unveil its latest immersive technology. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at its newest innovations designed to redefine the boundaries of XR experiences. From cutting-edge hardware including a glasses-free 3D display, motion capture system and XR headsets to groundbreaking software solutions such as Motion Studio and Spatial Capture, Sony XYN will showcase transformative tools that enable the future of spatial computing and immersive content creation. Auki Labs will showcase real-world solutions in the AR/AI and robotics space. Experience seamless AR navigation in the AWE venue by simply scanning a QR code—no app, no account setup, just magic. Used by retail chains in Europe and NA, Cactus enhances spatial reasoning for AI, humans, and robots, creating spatial tasks, analyzing location-based data, and facilitating robot deployments and interactions - bringing retail into the new world. Cellid's CEO Satoshi Shiraga will preview how Cellid's latest waveguide and lens breakthroughs are helping push AR glasses toward truly wearable, consumer-grade form factors. It will showcase its ultra-thin, lightweight waveguide that improves visual clarity across diverse environments, reducing eye strain and enhancing long-term wearability, as well as next-Gen Precision Fit Lenses with enhanced resolution, compactness, and design flexibility for future AR glasses — optimized for all-day comfort and slimmer profiles. Cellid will also preview a collaboration with an AR glasses manufacturer and a next-gen headset prototype using Cellid's optics.
