Google Abandons Augmented Reality Glasses Project Iris to Focus on AR Software
In Brief
Google terminated the development of its long-standing augmented reality glasses project, known as Iris.
The company decided to focus on software platforms for AR.
Google terminated a long-standing endeavor to develop augmented reality glasses, which had been in progress for several years. The project, referred to as Iris internally, was abandoned due to workforce reductions, organizational changes, and the resignation of Clay Bavor, Google’s head of augmented and virtual reality, as reported by Business Insider.
Project Iris was a secret initiative by Google to develop AR glasses that looked like regular eyewear. The company denied that the “ski goggles” device leaked in January 2022 was related to Iris and later revealed it as a joint AR project with Samsung.
Google acquired North, a Canadian company that made AR glasses in 2020, and used its technology to design an early version of Iris. A later version of Iris had translation capabilities and was shown publicly by Google.
However, the development of the Iris glasses, a hardware device for AR, was plagued by frequent shifts in direction from the top management, which caused frustration to many employees. Google decided to cancel the Iris glasses and instead focus on making software platforms for AR that it could license to other headset makers.
Google is now working on an Android XR platform for Samsung devices and a “micro XR” platform for glasses. According to sources, the “micro XR” software project at Google relies on a tool called Betty, which allows rapid prototyping. The goal of the project is to create a universal AR platform.
In March, Google discontinued its Glass Enterprise Edition 2, the latest version of its smart glasses. It was the second time Google stopped making its head-mounted display, one of the first and most famous products in the category. The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 was a successor to the original Google Glass, which launched in 2013 and faced privacy issues and low demand.
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About The Author
Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on agnec@mpost.io.
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Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on agnec@mpost.io.
