Off my Face: Compared to smartphones and other traditional computing markets, wearable gadgets haven't exactly taken the world by storm. Companies have been trying for years, and now Qualcomm is making another attempt to convince people that tethered smart glasses are indeed a good idea.
Back in February 2023, Qualcomm announced a high-profile partnership with Samsung and Google to develop new mixed reality technology. This new class of products would provide users with access to both augmented reality experiences and VR imagery, featuring a SoC designed by the fabless chip manufacturer.
The companies involved in the partnership didn't provide specific details about the mixed reality tech at the time, but Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon has now revealed more in a recent interview with CNBC. The new product is a pair of glasses designed to work with a compatible smartphone – a tried and tested concept that Amon believes will bring "new experiences" to customers.
Amon apparently wants everyone with a phone to adopt these smart glasses, and Qualcomm is already working on the underlying silicon components. The company's Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip design is specifically created for smart glasses, but Amon is looking ahead with a new AI-powered experience in mind.
Amon's vision for the new smart glasses is similar to Meta's approach with Ray-Ban. In that instance, the two companies developed trendy glasses that look like regular shades but are constantly connected to a smartphone. They have a built-in camera and can access a voice assistant powered by Meta's Llama language model.
According to Amon, AI will play a significant role in the smart glasses being developed in partnership with Samsung and Google. AI algorithms will reportedly run both on the local devices (the glasses and smartphone) and in the cloud, creating "whole new experiences." Unlike Apple's expensive Vision Pro headset, Qualcomm prefers to concentrate on stylish, lightweight wearable devices.
"I think we need to get to the point that the glasses are going to be no different than wearing a regular glasses or sunglasses. And then with that, we can get scale," Amon said.
Qualcomm is now looking to diversify its business beyond smartphones. Although mixed reality devices are still a small market compared to traditional mobile technology, Qualcomm sees them as a key area for expansion.