Watch Android XR Come to Life in First Demo of Google’s Smart Glasses Prototype
San Francisco - July 22, 2025
I didn’t expect to be handed a pair of smart glasses at TED2025. But when Google’s Shahram Izadi extended them toward the front row - where I was scribbling notes for another speaker - I felt the weight of something different.
Lighter than a standard frame, yet dense with potential, they didn’t just rest on my face - they introduced a new layer of reality.
Seconds after I slipped them on, the world changed. Speaker notes hovered subtly above the stage, translucent enough to not distract, yet legible without effort.
Seconds after I slipped them on, the world changed. Speaker notes hovered subtly above the stage, translucent enough to not distract, yet legible without effort.
Then Izadi tapped the side of the glasses and said, “Gemini, what book is on the shelf behind Nishtha?”
From across the stage, Nishtha Bhatia had turned briefly, exposing a stack of books. Without hesitation, Gemini answered: “The title of the white book on the shelf is ‘The Myth of Normal’.” I blinked - not because the answer was surprising, but because it came with such casual accuracy.
It was a rare moment of real-world AI magic - not in a developer sandbox or a video, but right in front of an audience. And it wasn't a concept video. It was Android XR running live on Google’s prototype smart glasses.
Android XR - Google’s operating system for extended reality - was officially unveiled in December 2024. Until now, it’s mostly existed as an abstraction, demoed in tightly controlled environments or speculative UI mocks.
From across the stage, Nishtha Bhatia had turned briefly, exposing a stack of books. Without hesitation, Gemini answered: “The title of the white book on the shelf is ‘The Myth of Normal’.” I blinked - not because the answer was surprising, but because it came with such casual accuracy.
It was a rare moment of real-world AI magic - not in a developer sandbox or a video, but right in front of an audience. And it wasn't a concept video. It was Android XR running live on Google’s prototype smart glasses.
What Is Android XR and Why It Matters
Android XR - Google’s operating system for extended reality - was officially unveiled in December 2024. Until now, it’s mostly existed as an abstraction, demoed in tightly controlled environments or speculative UI mocks.
The live TED2025 demonstration marked the first time Android XR was shown functioning on actual wearable hardware, signaling that Google’s XR push is not just theoretical - it’s hardware-bound, and likely headed for mass market.
The prototype glasses on display at TED weren’t labeled “Pixel,” and there was no branding from Google’s hardware team. But Izadi made it clear: this isn’t a hobby project.
The prototype glasses on display at TED weren’t labeled “Pixel,” and there was no branding from Google’s hardware team. But Izadi made it clear: this isn’t a hobby project.
The final product, he hinted, may arrive through a collaboration with Samsung, which has been investing heavily in XR hardware and is expected to release these glasses sometime in 2026.
Feature Description
Key Features Demoed During TED2025
Feature Description
Gemini Integration Real-time visual recognition and conversational AI
Live Translation Spoke in Hindi, replied in Hindi without setting adjustments
Smart Notes Overlay Live speaker notes projected through lenses
Object Recognition Identified distant items via camera input
Smartphone App Compatibility Full access to Android apps through tethered phone connection
Prescription Lens Support Lenses adaptable to wearer's vision
Navigation Integration Turn-by-turn directions displayed within the lens
A Hands-Off Demo with Real-World Nuance
During the live TED session, Nishtha Bhatia wore the prototype glasses and guided the audience through various capabilities.
Unlike previous Google Glass-style interactions that required tapping or swiping, this experience was mostly voice-driven.
Gemini handled everything from composing a haiku on demand to recognizing bookshelves, responding naturally to prompts like, “What’s the title of that book behind me?” without needing calibration or input toggles.
In another moment, Nishtha began speaking in Hindi - mid-demo - and Gemini responded back in Hindi, without needing a single menu or language setting change.
Gemini handled everything from composing a haiku on demand to recognizing bookshelves, responding naturally to prompts like, “What’s the title of that book behind me?” without needing calibration or input toggles.
In another moment, Nishtha began speaking in Hindi - mid-demo - and Gemini responded back in Hindi, without needing a single menu or language setting change.
It was impressive not because it was flashy, but because it was seamless.
Outside the main auditorium, I spoke briefly with Ravi Menon, co-founder of Lenslayer, an AR startup based in Delhi. “This is the first time I’ve seen something like this actually work live in a public demo,” he said.
Reactions on the Ground - From Developers to Attendees
Outside the main auditorium, I spoke briefly with Ravi Menon, co-founder of Lenslayer, an AR startup based in Delhi. “This is the first time I’ve seen something like this actually work live in a public demo,” he said.
“The translation and object recognition aren’t just cool - they’re crucial for accessibility and real-world use in multilingual environments like India.”
Back in the US, attendees shared similar impressions. Samantha Rivera, a UX researcher from California, described the experience as “eerily natural.”
“You almost forget it’s AI talking to you. It feels like a competent assistant that knows what you’re seeing - and that’s both exciting and a little creepy.”
Gemini, Google’s flagship AI, isn’t just ported into these glasses - it’s central to how Android XR works.
Back in the US, attendees shared similar impressions. Samantha Rivera, a UX researcher from California, described the experience as “eerily natural.”
“You almost forget it’s AI talking to you. It feels like a competent assistant that knows what you’re seeing - and that’s both exciting and a little creepy.”
What Gemini Adds - and Why It’s Different
Gemini, Google’s flagship AI, isn’t just ported into these glasses - it’s central to how Android XR works.
Instead of relying solely on gesture or voice commands, Gemini in this context acts like an ambient companion. It sees, listens, interprets, and responds.
This real-time understanding makes Gemini more than an input-output machine.
This real-time understanding makes Gemini more than an input-output machine.
During the demo, it could identify visual elements in the room, respond with contextual awareness, and even generate creative content - like the haiku it wrote on stage.
It did this while running through the glasses themselves, with minimal latency.
“The sunset fades fast
Yet within my glassy world
Meaning never blinks.”
That was the haiku Gemini wrote when prompted.
“The sunset fades fast
Yet within my glassy world
Meaning never blinks.”
That was the haiku Gemini wrote when prompted.
A small gesture, but it symbolized something big - an AI interface that doesn’t just understand commands, but context.
The Indian tech community is already speculating on how Android XR might fit into the country’s expanding digital infrastructure.
In Bengaluru, a group of engineering students I contacted after the TED livestream said they were already brainstorming ways XR could transform learning.
A Potential Game-Changer for the Indian Market
The Indian tech community is already speculating on how Android XR might fit into the country’s expanding digital infrastructure.
In Bengaluru, a group of engineering students I contacted after the TED livestream said they were already brainstorming ways XR could transform learning.
“Imagine medical students seeing anatomy projections in real time or engineering students manipulating virtual models mid-lecture,” said Priya Vardhan, a final-year mechanical engineering student.
Given India’s growing investment in AI and 5G infrastructure, the timing of such a product is critical.
Given India’s growing investment in AI and 5G infrastructure, the timing of such a product is critical.
Google’s longstanding presence in India through Android devices and Google Assistant gives it a natural entry point.
Despite the impressive tech, there are questions that remain unanswered. How will these glasses handle privacy? Can bystanders opt out of being scanned or analyzed by Gemini?
In previous interviews, Google has stated its commitment to “ethical AI integration,” but Android XR’s openness is both its strength and challenge.
Privacy, Trust, and the Open XR Approach
Despite the impressive tech, there are questions that remain unanswered. How will these glasses handle privacy? Can bystanders opt out of being scanned or analyzed by Gemini?
In previous interviews, Google has stated its commitment to “ethical AI integration,” but Android XR’s openness is both its strength and challenge.
Unlike closed systems like Apple’s Vision Pro, Android XR is designed to be modular and manufacturer-agnostic - potentially available to developers and OEMs around the world.
That’s good for innovation but raises interoperability and data concerns.
That’s good for innovation but raises interoperability and data concerns.
Will Samsung enforce strict privacy policies? Will smaller OEMs be held to the same standard?
While Apple’s Vision Pro is heavy on immersive visuals and Meta’s Quest line leans toward gaming and social interaction, Android XR seems to focus on ambient utility.
There’s no giant dashboard of floating apps or hand-tracked keyboard.
How It Compares: Vision Pro, Meta, and the Rest
While Apple’s Vision Pro is heavy on immersive visuals and Meta’s Quest line leans toward gaming and social interaction, Android XR seems to focus on ambient utility.
There’s no giant dashboard of floating apps or hand-tracked keyboard.
Instead, it’s about surfacing relevant information only when needed - a haiku here, a translated phrase there, a book title behind someone’s shoulder. It’s minimalistic - arguably more useful for everyday life.
The trade-off? Possibly less immersion. But for users who want a real-world layer, not a virtual escape, Android XR might offer the right balance.
Izadi didn’t confirm Samsung's role directly, but signs point that way. Google and Samsung have a longstanding collaboration on Wear OS, and both have hinted at a joint XR future.
The trade-off? Possibly less immersion. But for users who want a real-world layer, not a virtual escape, Android XR might offer the right balance.
The Road Ahead: Will Samsung Bring It to Life?
Izadi didn’t confirm Samsung's role directly, but signs point that way. Google and Samsung have a longstanding collaboration on Wear OS, and both have hinted at a joint XR future.
Samsung’s previous patents and prototype leaks suggest it’s been building toward an AR wearable platform - possibly with Android XR at its core.
If Samsung does release the glasses, they’ll have to balance premium specs with affordability — especially for markets like India.
If Samsung does release the glasses, they’ll have to balance premium specs with affordability — especially for markets like India.
Success will depend on developer support, app integration, and whether users trust Gemini enough to let it see through their eyes.
As I left the TED venue, I kept thinking about that haiku. Not because it was profound - it wasn’t.
Final Take: A Glimpse into a Near Future
As I left the TED venue, I kept thinking about that haiku. Not because it was profound - it wasn’t.
But because it was delivered by an AI that understood its environment, the context, and the human asking the question.
Android XR, as demoed, is still a prototype. There are no shipping dates, no preorders, no clear pricing. But the demo was real.
Android XR, as demoed, is still a prototype. There are no shipping dates, no preorders, no clear pricing. But the demo was real.
The glasses worked. And for once, a tech demo didn’t feel like science fiction - it felt like a Tuesday in the not-so-distant future.
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