Following the announcement of Vision Pro last year, Apple has reportedly been seeking additional methods to deliver AR and VR experiences to its users, leading to a growing interest in smart glasses within the company. A report from Bloomberg indicated that Apple is currently engaged in a fresh internal study aimed at developing smart glasses.
Apple is soliciting employee opinions on smart glasses
The initiative, referred to internally as “Atlas,” reportedly commenced last week, with Apple employees invited to share their perspectives regarding smart glasses. The team behind this initiative dispatched an email to a select group of employees, confirming their research efforts in this area.
“Testing and developing products that resonate with everyone is central to our mission at Apple. This is why we are seeking participants for an upcoming user study involving current smart glasses on the market,” the email stated.
As detailed by Bloomberg, Apple frequently assembles confidential groups when it plans to launch a new product category. The company prefers obtaining insights from its employees to maintain the confidentiality of its plans. This study implies that Apple is determined to advance its efforts in creating its own line of smart glasses.
This isn’t the first time speculation has arisen regarding Apple’s interest in smart glasses. However, the concept appears to be maturing within the organization. While the Vision Pro carries a hefty price tag of $3,499 and has not achieved significant success, Meta is performing well with its smart glasses developed in collaboration with Ray-Ban.
The Ray-Ban Meta glasses may not match the sophistication of the Apple Vision Pro since they lack a display. Nevertheless, users can enjoy music, answer calls, interact with an AI assistant, and capture photos and videos using the glasses. With the Vision Pro being so costly and cumbersome, Apple seems keen on releasing a more affordable and lightweight option targeted at the general public.
Recently, Meta launched its latest initiative named “Orion,” featuring glasses equipped with Micro LED projectors that display images before the wearer’s eyes. Although Meta has stated that it is still years away from launching Orion, early testers have reportedly been impressed with its technology. After all, smart glasses are significantly lighter than full headsets.
Regrettably, the report mentions that it will be several years before Apple unveils its smart glasses. In the interim, the company is also developing a more affordable version of the Apple Vision Pro, along with a second generation featuring a faster processor.
