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Xreal Unveils Project Aura, New AI-Powered Android XR Glasses, at Google I/O

These glasses are the second project confirmed for Google's AI-powered Android XR family of products.

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Headshot of Tyler Graham
Tyler Graham Writer
Tyler is a writer for CNET covering laptops and video games. He's previously covered mobile devices, home energy products and broadband. He came to CNET straight out of college, where he graduated from Seton Hall with a bachelor's degree in journalism. When Tyler's not asking questions or doing research for his next assignment, you can find him in his home state of New Jersey, kicking back with a bagel and watching an action flick or playing a new video game. When Tyler's not asking questions or doing research for his next assignment, you can find him in his home state of New Jersey, kicking back with a bagel and watching an action flick or playing a new video game. You can reach him at tgraham@cnet.com.
Expertise Video gaming, computer hardware, laptops, home energy, home internet
Tyler Graham
2 min read
A pair of camera equipped AR glasses called Project Aura made by Xreal that look like sunglasses

Project Aura, a pair of tethered AR glasses being made by Xreal, are part of a next wave of glasses for Android XR.

 Xreal

Smart eyewear company Xreal is partnering with Google to produce augmented reality glasses that it is calling Project Aura, a new product built using Android XR technology. The AI-powered glasses will use optical see-through technology to enhance the consumer AR experience and will include a widened 70-degree field of view.

Demonstrations from the Google I/O event on Tuesday showed Android XR glasses making search queries, superimposing maps into the wearer's field of vision, and translating words from foreign languages in real time -- although that feature was something of a work in progress. Much of the technology in these glasses is built on the foundations laid by some of the best mobile phones on the market.

Watch this: Google Unveils Android XR Glasses at Google I/O

In an interview with CNET's Scott Stein, Shahram Izadi, the head of Android XR, said that Project Aura represents the next frontier for artificial intelligence.

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"I know some people think about glasses one day replacing smartphones," said Izadi. "I think it will be this growing ecosystem approach. But we do feel that XR is going to be the next frontier for Gemini, and for AI."

Project Aura is built in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Although the glasses use Android XR's software stack, they incorporate Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR chipset in order to "optimize spatial computing."

Google has partnered with multiple eyeglass manufacturers as it pushes to make AI-powered AR glasses the next big thing. Gentle Monster and Warby Parker are Google's first brand partners for Android XR eyeglasses production.

More details about Project Aura will be revealed at the Augmented World Expo in June, and a further slate of technical specifications will follow later this year.

Project Aura is the second project confirmed for Google's AI-powered Android XR family of products. The first is a mixed-reality VR headset made by Samsung called Project Moohan, which might be released later in 2025.