Google unveiled and discussed several tech solutions at their I/O presentation last week. But while Veo 3 understandably captured a lot of excitement, one announcement has flown a little under the radar. This is likely somewhat justified given Google’s history with this technology, but the signs point towards something that I believe will be the next big technological breakthrough that will reshape how people access information and interact in the world. That is, augmented/mixed reality glasses.
While the enthusiasm for mixed reality glasses has remained relatively low, this has not stopped a number of tech companies prioritising development in this space. Meta made waves a few years ago when it rebranded from Facebook to Meta to highlight its shift in focus towards the predicted trillion dollar augmented/virtual reality future. In 2014, Meta acquired Oculus VR for $2b USD, and this laid the groundwork for their AR/VR ambitions. Powered by solid tech and a relatively cheap entry point for consumers to buy the headsets, it set up Meta well to be the market leader in the space. However, consumers still did not see the value, and those who purchased the headsets found themselves disappointed and bored with the limited features available.
Apple’s foray into the space was the biggest potential sign of a shift in consumer mindset. Apple has a strong history of innovation and pushing consumers towards new technology solutions. There is also a cult-like following for Apple products which almost guaranteed sales for the Apple Vision Pro. However, the reality never lived up to the expectations. With its high entry point cost, and lack of compelling reasons for people to invest their time and money into this tech, sales stalled and eventually saw Apple almost deny any existence of the product not long after release.
The concept of a full VR headset seems to be something people still are not ready to embrace, as Meta and Apple can attest. This has not stopped Google from working on a full operating system for headsets to use, as revealed during I/O 2025. This does sit nicely in Google’s wheelhouse, especially when looking at AndroidOS. The partnership with Samsung means the pressure will be on Samsung, rather than Google, to deliver a headset that people want to buy, but there is comfort in knowing the operating system will likely be pretty slick.
However, while VR is still struggling to find a market, perhaps the next big technological breakthrough will come through augmented and mixed reality glasses. Google announced their latest attempt to enter the AR space, after their failed attempt to launch Google Glass in 2013. While that tech showed promise, it really struggled to showcase anything that would justify the cost, while the form and style of the glasses didn’t really inspire people to wear them.
At I/O, Google announced their partnership with Xreal, makers of some of the best AR glasses already on the market, as well as companies Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to look to put Google tech into their existing glasses styles. This aligns Google with Meta’s partnership with Ray Bans to add in some of the Meta tech into their glasses.
These glasses have the chance to become a powerful companion, with the backing of Google’s suite of tools and AI. Google’s dominance in the maps space can be supercharged by allowing people to be able to easily see directions overlaid into the real world without sacrificing their field of view addresses the capabilities AR promises without the sacrifices that VR headsets bring. Add in the ability to message without needing to look at your phone, ask Gemini questions about things you’re seeing in the world, and real time translation functionality and it is easy to see these glasses becoming a staple for many people.
This is all still theoretical at this stage for Google. They showed a live demo that did encounter some technical difficulties. But because the devices are powered by a number of platforms that are already built and operational (Gemini, messaging, translate), the foundations are set for Google’s offering to deliver. The biggest challenge is if they will be able to create stylish, affordable, and streamlined glasses. Over the years, numerous companies have announced and showcased their AR glasses, but the bulky arms and corresponding weight have meant that they were not comfortable to wear. Nor were they cheap because of all the components used to make the augmentation work. Google’s example glasses look sleek and comfortable. If they are the exact ones that will be available to consumers soon.
These types of glasses promise to replace cellphones in many ways. Though in order to keep the technology of these glasses lightweight, tethering these devices to a cellphone will likely still be a key component for the foreseeable future. But through these glasses, people can listen to music (including changing tracks), send and reply to messages, and track their location quickly and easily without looking at their phones. Being able to ask an AI assistant questions about where you misplaced your keys, because the assistant is always watching, could alarm some people, but could also be a huge advantage for many.
It’s not a stretch to say that these devices could eventually replace cellphones, or at least extend and simplify a number of takes people use their phones for. The questions remain, however, over consumer demand and technical barriers. The developments by Meta and Google suggest the technical barriers might be resolved soon. Consumer demand concerns still remain, but I for one will likely be buying a pair when Google rolls these out later this year.