Google detailed updates for its Galaxy XR headset and previewed future Android XR devices at The Android Show: XR Edition. New features include PC Connect, which links a Windows PC to the headset, allowing users to place desktop windows alongside native apps, and Travel Mode, which stabilizes the view for immersive productivity or entertainment while on the move.
The Likeness feature creates a realistic digital avatar that mirrors users’ facial expressions and hand gestures in real-time, enabling authentic video calls while wearing the headset. All three features are rolling out in beta starting today.
Google also previewed AI glasses developed with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. Screen-free AI glasses let users interact with Google’s Gemini AI via voice, while display glasses provide in-lens information such as live translations and navigation. Wired XR glasses, including Project Aura from XREAL, use optical see-through technology with a 70-degree field of view, allowing users to overlay multiple windows for practical applications such as following recipes or repair guides.
To support developers, Google launched Developer Preview 3 of the Android XR SDK, enabling creation of immersive applications for AI and wired XR glasses. Early examples from partners like Uber and GetYourGuide demonstrate practical AR integration.
Similar moves are happening across the industry, including Alibaba’s Quark AI Glasses, which integrate the Qwen AI model to scale consumer-facing AI products amid growing competition.
