Celebrating a Decade of Innovation: Snapdragon Summit 2025

This week marks a significant milestone: the 10-year anniversary of the Snapdragon Summit, an event that has shaped the landscape of mobile and wearable technology. This year, Qualcomm has invited a notable guest from Google, who boldly proclaimed that smart glasses represent the future of artificial intelligence (AI).

During a compelling keynote address by Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Google’s Rick Osterloh took the stage to share insights into the future of wearable technology and its convergence with AI.

In a lively discussion with Amon, Osterloh was prompted to share which project he finds most thrilling among Qualcomm’s initiatives. Without hesitation, he emphasized that while there are exciting industrial applications of AI in robotics, his greatest enthusiasm lies in “bringing this capability [AI] en masse to consumers through smart glasses.” He anticipates that this evolution will provide an exhilarating shift in how technology interacts with our daily lives.

“This will represent a new computing surface,” Osterloh remarked. “It’ll enable everyone to share their context with AI, optimizing their experience and empowering them to navigate the world with newfound freedom.”

The upcoming wave of smart glasses is anticipated to leverage Android XR (Extended Reality), a fresh platform from Google dedicated to this category. However, commercial products harnessing this technology are yet to hit the market.

Expectations are high as Samsung gears up for the official release of its much-anticipated Project Moohan headset, with an unveiling suggested for next month. Notably, it was showcased at the Snapdragon Summit, garnering considerable attention.

Image Credit: Chris Martin / Foundry

While many hope for a revolutionary successor to the original Google Glass, released back in 2013, such an outcome remains uncertain. There is Project Aura, developed by Xreal, but it is currently intended primarily for developers.

A pressing question arises: can Google effectively compete with companies like Meta, which has recently launched its upgraded Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses? These new models feature significant enhancements over their predecessors, including improved cameras and extended battery life.

Meta may enjoy an early lead in XR technology, but Google’s advanced AI capabilities could serve as a potential game-changer. The introduction of Gemini represents a significant advancement within the spectrum of AI technology for smart devices.

While the future remains uncertain, early experiences with Gemini across various devices—such as smartphones and smartwatches—suggest that Google is poised to integrate these capabilities across a growing array of tech platforms.

Image Credit: Mark Hachman / Foundry

This year’s Snapdragon Summit showcases Qualcomm’s commitment to promoting the integration of ‘AI everywhere’. Demonstrations included applications of smart glasses designed to assist in workplace settings, from setting reminders to identifying colleagues scheduled for meetings. One scenario depicted an individual navigating a city and receiving restaurant recommendations tailored to her tastes and free time.

One critical point of discussion is whether Google might be arriving late to the smart glasses arena. With Samsung’s Project Moohan being a mixed reality headset—much like Apple’s Vision Pro—it isn’t intended for casual street use at this stage.

Furthermore, reports indicate that Samsung is collaborating with Google on AI-enhanced smart glasses, although the timeline for their release remains ambiguous. As it stands, Meta may have already progressed to its third generation of smart glasses, potentially securing an early grasp on the market.

Only time can reveal how this competition will unfold, but the innovations and direction of these leading tech giants signal an exciting era for smart wearable technology ahead.