Android XR glasses: Google's AI-powered platform for smart glasses

Google is gradually pulling back the curtain on Android XR, its new platform for AI-powered glasses. Developer design documentation has surfaced online, unexpectedly revealing how these future AI glasses will look and function. According to the description, the company is betting not just on AI, but also on reviving a thoughtful, almost "forgotten" approach to interface control.

The documents describe two types of devices: AI glasses without a screen, and Display AI Glasses models with a screen that can be turned off. The screen-equipped version includes both monocular and binocular solutions, with the latter expected to arrive later. Control will be built around physical buttons and a touchpad, with dedicated elements for the camera, power, display, and launching the Gemini voice assistant.

The Android XR interface focuses on minimalism and energy efficiency. The home screen resembles a smartphone lock screen, displaying only contextually important information. Notifications appear as neat capsules that expand when the user focuses their gaze. A special emphasis is placed on colors: green is identified as the most economical, while blue is deemed the most power-hungry and heat-generating.

This approach suggests Google is trying to avoid the mistakes of past XR projects. It's worth noting that Android XR brings back the idea of simple, intuitive control where technology doesn't overwhelm the user. If the company successfully brings this concept to market, the smart glasses segment could gain a genuinely convenient and mature next-generation product.