Google has taken a major step forward in augmented reality development with the launch of Android XR SDK for AI glasses Developer Preview 3. This update introduces powerful tools and libraries designed to help developers create immersive AI glasses experiences, bridging the gap between mobile apps and wearable AR hardware. With features like motion tracking, geospatial anchoring, and new UI components, this release is poised to redefine how apps interact with the world through AI glasses.
Android XR SDK for AI Glasses: What’s New in Developer Preview 3?
Developer Preview 3 brings two key libraries that extend app functionality to AI glasses: Jetpack Projected and Jetpack Compose Glimmer. These libraries allow developers to leverage the glasses’ built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers, while presenting information on the display, where available.
Jetpack Projected enables a host device—such as an Android smartphone—to project an app’s XR experience onto AI glasses. This includes handling audio and video streams and checking hardware availability. For example, a video conferencing app could switch from the phone camera to the glasses’ camera for a first-person view, creating a more immersive experience. Apps need to request runtime permissions according to standard Android protocols before accessing hardware.
On the other hand, Jetpack Compose Glimmer introduces a set of UI components specifically for AI glasses with a display. It uses optical see-through technology to overlay digital visuals seamlessly onto the real world. Components include text, icons, cards, lists, buttons, and title chips, all designed with clarity and minimal distraction in mind. Developers can adjust layout, appearance, and behavior using modifiers, and stack components along the z-axis for depth perception with shadows.
Additionally, Google has added an AI glasses emulator in Android Studio, allowing developers to preview UIs and simulate interactions, including touchpad and voice input, before deploying to actual devices.
ARCore Expansion and Motion Tracking
The Android XR SDK for AI glasses also includes expanded ARCore support for Jetpack XR. This allows developers to anchor content to real-world locations, retrieve planar data, and respond to user motion. The SDK now supports geospatial pose tracking, enabling apps to tie content to areas covered by Google Street View. Motion tracking ensures that visuals respond accurately to user movement, making AR experiences more interactive and lifelike.
This expanded ARCore support makes it easier for developers to create applications where digital objects remain fixed in physical space, enhancing navigation, training, gaming, and immersive media applications.
Why Developers Should Pay Attention?
The new Android XR SDK for AI glasses opens doors for a range of applications:
- Enterprise tools: Overlay instructions or schematics on machinery.
- Healthcare: Assist surgeons with real-time patient data during procedures.
- Education: Bring interactive AR lessons to classrooms or remote learners.
- Entertainment: Build AR games and social experiences that blend digital and physical worlds.
By combining Jetpack Projected, Compose Glimmer, and ARCore, developers can now build apps that feel native to AI glasses, rather than adapting mobile experiences to wearable devices.
Getting Started with Android XR SDK for AI Glasses
To start developing, the SDK is available in Android Studio Canary, requiring the latest emulator version (36.4.3 Canary or later). Developers can explore Jetpack Projected for audio/video streaming, Compose Glimmer for UI creation, and the ARCore APIs for spatial anchoring and motion tracking.
This release signals Google’s commitment to making AI glasses a practical platform for developers, giving them the tools to deliver next-generation augmented reality applications.
The Android XR SDK for AI glasses is not just an update—it’s a gateway for developers to craft AR experiences that are immersive, interactive, and intuitive, unlocking the full potential of wearable AI technology.
