Building for Android XR: AI Glasses Development
Article Summary
Matthew McCullough from Google just dropped the toolkit that could make AI glasses actually useful. Developer Preview 3 brings purpose-built libraries for augmented experiences that keep users present in the real world.
Google's Android XR platform is expanding beyond headsets into AI glasses territory. Developer Preview 3 introduces new tools specifically designed for lightweight, all-day-wear glasses from partners like XREAL, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker.
Key Takeaways
- New Jetpack Projected library bridges mobile devices and AI glasses hardware
- Jetpack Compose Glimmer provides optical see-through UI components for minimal distraction
- ARCore adds motion tracking and geospatial capabilities for navigation experiences
- Face tracking now supports 68 blendshape values for gesture recognition
- Unity developers get scene meshing for realistic environmental interactions
Critical Insight
Android XR now supports both immersive headset experiences and lightweight AI glasses with dedicated libraries, emulators, and ARCore features for building hands-free augmented apps.
