Google Abandons Hardware for Smart Glasses, Shifts Focus to XR Software

Google has reportedly shelved its Iris smart glasses project and is now focusing on developing the Android OS and software for augmented reality (AR) instead of hardware. The company's existing phone-based AR apps, such as Google Lens and Live View, are well-positioned for smart glasses. However, concerns arise about Google's hardware division and its commitment to developing AR glasses in-house. The cancellation of the Iris project may be due to the technology not being ready or a shift towards the Android-OEM model. The future of AR glasses is seen as a potential replacement for smartphones and laptops, with game-changing use cases.