Google co-founder Sergei Brin has admitted that an early attempt to create augmented reality glasses, Google Glass, was ahead of its time. But given recent advances in artificial intelligence, Brin suggests the moment may be right for a comeback.
Speaking to reporters at Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O, Brin reflected on the company’s previous forays into AR glasses. “Unfortunately, we kind of got the timing wrong,” he told Bloomberg. “I wish I had timed it a little better.”
Google Glass, first introduced in 2013, faced criticism for its design and privacy concerns, leading to its discontinuation in 2015. Despite this setback, Brin still believes that the shape of Google Glass was ” pretty cold”.
A fresh pair of Google Glasses contains artificial intelligence During the conference, Google unveiled Project Astra, an AI agent capable of understanding and interacting with the real world through a smartphone camera. During the demonstration, a user wearing the prototype clever glasses continued to talk to the AI agent, suggesting the potential of AI-powered AR glasses.
The demo showed the user asking the AI what it was looking at, which appeared to be a drawing of Schrödinger’s cat on a whiteboard. The artificial intelligence responded with voice and text evident through the lenses, identifying the image.
Ten years later, Google Glasses are “killer,” says co-founder. While it’s unclear whether the visual effect was real and whether Google really intends to ship clever glasses with built-in AR displays, the demonstration sparked speculation that Google Glass could make a comeback. and Brin was not discouraged by the idea. “It’s entertaining because it’s perfect equipment,” Brin noted in an interview with CNET. “It’s like a killer app now, 10 years later.”
Brin emphasized the importance of hands-free interactions with artificial intelligence, especially when users engage in activities such as cooking or playing sports. “The idea is to employ a hands-free kit,” he told Bloomberg. “Many things require comment: you cook, you do some sport, or you want it to support you. It’s inconvenient to do this while holding the phone in your hands.”
He also noted that other companies are exploring ways to make AI interactions more inconspicuous using devices such as clips and wearables. Well, that doesn’t quite hold true, as companies face the challenge of convincing users that these devices offer features and capabilities beyond what smartphones already offer. Something Humane and Rabbit struggle with.
Google CEO and AI chief also mention Glass’ return Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, also expressed enthusiasm for the idea of AI-powered AR glasses. “Obviously it works amazingly on phones,” he said, referring to Project Astra. “But the entire Valley is debating this – there will likely be other design elements needed as well once these systems are fully developed. I think glass is obvious.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai hasn’t been shy about teasing the possibility of glasses making a comeback. Being at the same point as others, he said that Project Astra could shine thanks to its glasses-like casing. In an interview with CNBC, Pichai said: “The Astra design shines when it comes to glasses. We are working on prototypes.”
The glasses, which were once the subject of weighty criticism, began to gain popularity, with many people beyond Brin, Hassabis, and Pichai considering them the “ideal” shape for an AI companion. Thanks to the success of Meta’s Ray-Ban clever glasses and Amazon’s Echo Frames, people seem more open to wearable AI devices.
This isn’t the first time Google has unveiled a fresh pair of glasses after discontinuing the first pair. During his keynote speech at I/O 2022, Pichai teased a pair of glasses that could translate live, but that project was reportedly shelved just a year after that announcement.
The one shown at I/O 2024 is also currently a prototype pair. So we don’t know when they will be able to be scrapped. While he sees enthusiasm for Google’s executives, the company could be on to something.
Speaking to reporters at Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O, Brin reflected on the company’s previous forays into AR glasses. “Unfortunately, we kind of got the timing wrong,” he told Bloomberg. “I wish I had timed it a little better.”
Google Glass, first introduced in 2013, faced criticism for its design and privacy concerns, leading to its discontinuation in 2015. Despite this setback, Brin still believes that the shape of Google Glass was ” pretty cold”.
A fresh pair of Google Glasses contains artificial intelligence During the conference, Google unveiled Project Astra, an AI agent capable of understanding and interacting with the real world through a smartphone camera. During the demonstration, a user wearing the prototype clever glasses continued to talk to the AI agent, suggesting the potential of AI-powered AR glasses.
The demo showed the user asking the AI what it was looking at, which appeared to be a drawing of Schrödinger’s cat on a whiteboard. The artificial intelligence responded with voice and text evident through the lenses, identifying the image.
Ten years later, Google Glasses are “killer,” says co-founder. While it’s unclear whether the visual effect was real and whether Google really intends to ship clever glasses with built-in AR displays, the demonstration sparked speculation that Google Glass could make a comeback. and Brin was not discouraged by the idea. “It’s entertaining because it’s perfect equipment,” Brin noted in an interview with CNET. “It’s like a killer app now, 10 years later.”
Brin emphasized the importance of hands-free interactions with artificial intelligence, especially when users engage in activities such as cooking or playing sports. “The idea is to employ a hands-free kit,” he told Bloomberg. “Many things require comment: you cook, you do some sport, or you want it to support you. It’s inconvenient to do this while holding the phone in your hands.”
He also noted that other companies are exploring ways to make AI interactions more inconspicuous using devices such as clips and wearables. Well, that doesn’t quite hold true, as companies face the challenge of convincing users that these devices offer features and capabilities beyond what smartphones already offer. Something Humane and Rabbit struggle with.
Google CEO and AI chief also mention Glass’ return Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, also expressed enthusiasm for the idea of AI-powered AR glasses. “Obviously it works amazingly on phones,” he said, referring to Project Astra. “But the entire Valley is debating this – there will likely be other design elements needed as well once these systems are fully developed. I think glass is obvious.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai hasn’t been shy about teasing the possibility of glasses making a comeback. Being at the same point as others, he said that Project Astra could shine thanks to its glasses-like casing. In an interview with CNBC, Pichai said: “The Astra design shines when it comes to glasses. We are working on prototypes.”
The glasses, which were once the subject of weighty criticism, began to gain popularity, with many people beyond Brin, Hassabis, and Pichai considering them the “ideal” shape for an AI companion. Thanks to the success of Meta’s Ray-Ban clever glasses and Amazon’s Echo Frames, people seem more open to wearable AI devices.
This isn’t the first time Google has unveiled a fresh pair of glasses after discontinuing the first pair. During his keynote speech at I/O 2022, Pichai teased a pair of glasses that could translate live, but that project was reportedly shelved just a year after that announcement.
The one shown at I/O 2024 is also currently a prototype pair. So we don’t know when they will be able to be scrapped. While he sees enthusiasm for Google’s executives, the company could be on to something.
