According to Odaily, mixed reality startup Magic Leap has announced a 'multi-faceted strategic technology partnership' with Google to develop new augmented reality technology. The partnership, as stated by Magic Leap's Chief Technology Officer Julie Larson-Green, will highlight Magic Leap's advancements in the optical field and Google's infrastructure. 'By combining our rich optical capabilities with Google's technology, this partnership accelerates the transformative power of augmented reality, continuing to provide immersive experiences for the developer ecosystem and customers. We look forward to expanding the potential of augmented reality, merging the physical world with valuable, contextually relevant solutions,' she said.
The press release did not describe any actual products or announce any potential services, but this could imply a new head-mounted device for AR/XR, thereby competing with Meta and Apple. As pointed out in a recent article by Sean Hollister of The Verge, it is unclear what Google has gained from this partnership. Google has demonstrated its ability to create custom hardware in its own product line, from Pixel smartphones to highly praised smart speakers. However, when it comes to AR/XR head-mounted devices and goggles, previous efforts by Magic Leap and Google in the Magic Leap and Google Glass head-mounted devices have failed.