Google demos prototype Android XR glasses with a built-in display

In short: Google showed prototype smart glasses that can display helpful text and icons in front of your eyes, like directions and live translations.

What happened

Google gave a small group of people a brief hands-on demo of prototype Android XR glasses at its I/O conference. These glasses include a tiny display in the lens that puts information into your field of view, similar to seeing notes on a car windshield (a heads-up display).

In the demo, the glasses worked with Google’s Gemini assistant, plus apps on a connected phone. Google said the glasses are meant to pair with both Android phones and iPhones.

TechCrunch reported that the prototype could show widgets, small on-screen panels, for things like weather, walking directions, and pickup details. A standout demo was live translation. When someone spoke Spanish, the glasses detected the language and showed English text on the lens, while the user also heard English audio.

The glasses could also start navigation by voice, using Google Maps on the phone. Directions then appeared in the user’s view, so they did not need to pull out their phone.

Google described the device as a prototype, not the final product. The company said it is still working on issues like battery life, comfort, and display quality. Google plans to share more later this year as it expands its tester program.

Why it matters

If these glasses ship in a polished form, they could make common tasks easier while your hands are busy, like walking in a new city or talking with someone in another language. But Google is also signaling that the display version is not ready yet, and early demos still show limits like delays, fuzzy visuals, and potential eye strain.

Source: TechCrunch AI