Google unveiled AR glasses so advanced that they may never reach the market
Google’s Secret Weapon: XR Glasses with Integrated AI
While giants like Apple, Meta, and Samsung compete to dominate the augmented reality field, Google has secretly revealed its ace in the hole: a prototype of XR glasses with integrated AI that looks more like a stop-motion film than a real product. Unveiled during the TED2025 event, the device looks so advanced that it’s hard to believe it was executed in real time. And although the showcased features are exciting, the big question is whether these glasses will ever reach consumers.
Real Technology, Unreal Appearance
During his talk, , Google’s VP of XR, appeared on stage with glasses that, although large, looked conventional. But they weren’t. The XR glasses he wore displayed his speech notes in real time through a tiny screen on the lens. Izadi raised the device to the camera and commented, “it’s very, very small,” referring to the internal screen, likely a -type technology, like that used in the new RayNeo glasses.
The device, Google’s first since the failed , features a microphone, camera, speakers, and runs on Android XR, the company’s own operating system for extended reality devices.
Gemini, Augmented Intelligence for Your Eyes
The presentation continued with the participation of , product manager, who demonstrated live how the glasses interact with Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot. After touching one of the device’s arms, the characteristic blue logo appeared, and Gemini generated a somewhat ridiculous haiku about the audience. Beyond the humor, the demonstration included , visual information summaries like graphics, and a “memory” function to remember what the glasses recently saw, similar to DeepMind’s Project Astra.
These functions seamlessly integrate with other Google services. Bhatia asked the glasses to identify a Teddy Swims vinyl, and the system not only recognized it, but also played his music through YouTube Music. They even showed a feature that projects a semi-holographic version of Google Maps Street View for navigation.
