Xreal Founder Bets AI Will Push Smart Glasses Beyond Hype

(Macao) — After years of false starts and cyclical hype around virtual reality (VR) and metaverse hardware, Chinese augmented reality (AR) firm Xreal Ltd. founder Xu Chi said artificial intelligence (AI) may finally give smart glasses the use case the industry has long been waiting for.

“Glasses makes the most sense as the next major consumer terminal after smartphones,” Xu told Caixin on the sidelines of the Beyond Expo in Macao on May 27. “AI needs a device that can stay with users continuously, rather than one that is unlocked only when needed.”