Zayed Rehman on November 5, 2024, 3:10 pm

Apple And OpenAI Are Both Developing AR Smart Glasses

Apple has big plans to make a pair of smart glasses that could eventually compete with the likes of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.

While Apple’s Vision Pro headset has been in the spotlight, the company’s next goal seems to be developing augmented reality glasses that look and feel just like regular specs.

For now, this has mostly been speculation, but Apple is taking some real steps forward. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has launched an internal project called “Atlas,” where its employees are testing out existing smart glasses. These Apple staff members are giving feedback on what works and what doesn’t, helping the company figure out the features, designs, and price points that would work for their future AR glasses.

While Apple is still in the early phases, the research could help it compete with brands like Meta. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are a more affordable option, letting users make calls and listen to music, but they don’t pack the high-tech AR features that Apple is aiming for.

Adding to the excitement, OpenAI might soon enter the smart glasses race too. Caitlin Kalinowski, who previously led Meta’s AR glasses team, has joined OpenAI to lead its robotics and hardware division. This has sparked rumors that OpenAI could be developing its own smart glasses in the future.

With Apple, Meta, and possibly OpenAI all working on their own versions, the smart glasses market is about to get a lot more interesting. We could be in for some exciting advancements in wearable tech in the next few years.