Google has unveiled a new operating system, Android XR, designed for virtual reality headsets and smart glasses.
Details on how exactly Android XR will work are still scarce. However, as The Verge reports, Google is already adapting its popular services like Maps, Photos, and YouTube to work in the new environment. Interestingly, the new OS will support smartphone and tablet apps from Google Play, similar to how Apple adapted iPad apps for the Vision Pro. A version of the Chrome browser with support for multitasking in XR mode is also being developed.
The key role in Android XR is played by Gemini artificial intelligence (AI). Google believes that AI is capable of making extended reality (XR) devices convenient and mass-market.
Google sees the future of XR devices in their versatility. Headsets should easily switch between virtual and real worlds, and smart glasses could become a person’s constant companion. The company is also considering the possibility of creating devices focused solely on audio, similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.
Samsung Project Moohan smart glasses with a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor and Android XR beta are currently available to developers. They are intended for testing applications only and will not be available for retail sale.
