At Google I/O 2024, a sudden revelation has again showcased Google’s knack for stirring excitement in the tech world. This time, the spotlight was on a new prototype of augmented reality (AR) glasses, introduced so quickly that you might miss them if you blinked. Dubbed the “assistant glasses,” they appeared on stage in seconds, showcasing their impressive capabilities live.
These glasses, emerging under the Project Astra demo, were worn by a Google employee whose seemingly ordinary spectacles hid thick frames packed with advanced AI technologies. These technologies provide assistant-like features, responding to the wearer’s vocal queries with visible text answers on a presumably transparent display.
This prototype closely resembles earlier models from Google’s Project Iris but features a new, more curved design at the nose bridge—a detail that could enhance user comfort significantly.
While Google has not disclosed many details about these new AR glasses, the mention of “prototype glasses device” in the YouTube description of the Project Astra video suggests Google is opting to highlight rather than conceal this innovation.
Meta’s AI-supported Ray-Ban smart glasses are considered the most practical AI wearable tech released to date, despite lacking a display. Given this, Google’s decision to begin public testing of its advanced prototypes—continuing its ambitious efforts in AR technology—is hardly surprising.
With this intriguing new prototype, Google is poised to capture the attention of tech enthusiasts and possibly revolutionize how AR technology integrates into everyday life as these glasses begin to appear on the streets.
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