Key facts
- Qualcomm announced new AI platforms, Snapdragon Reality Elite and START, for wearables.
- Qualcomm is working on over 40 AI wearable designs.
- Snap Inc. unveiled new AR glasses called Spectacles.
- Snap's Spectacles are priced at $2,195 and available for preorder June 16.
- Snap's Spectacles feature Qualcomm processors.
- LG Electronics is shifting focus to services, B2B, and AI robotics.
- Plaud aims for $500 million in annual sales with a new AI agent wearable.
- Microsoft updated its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Qualcomm chips.
- Apple plans to launch AI-equipped AirPods with cameras in late 2027.
- Activist investor Irenic Capital Management is pressuring Snap.
A significant push towards AI-powered wearables and augmented reality devices is underway across the tech industry, with companies like Qualcomm, Snap, LG Electronics, Plaud, Microsoft, and Apple making strategic moves. Qualcomm is at the forefront, announcing new AI platforms, Snapdragon Reality Elite and START, designed to power next-generation AI-driven wearable devices beyond smartphones. CEO Cristiano Amon indicated Qualcomm is involved in over 40 AI wearable designs, underscoring the company's commitment to this emerging computing platform.
Snap Inc. is directly entering this space with its new Spectacles AR glasses, priced at $2,195 and available for preorder on June 16. These glasses aim to usher in a post-smartphone era by overlaying digital content onto the real world, and they feature Qualcomm processors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is defending this investment against activist investor Irenic Capital Management, which has pressured the company to spin off or shut down the unit. Meanwhile, LG Electronics is strategically shifting its focus from traditional home appliances to recurring services, business-to-business solutions, and AI-powered home robotics, seeking to reduce reliance on cyclical consumer spending and build steadier revenue streams.
Plaud, a company known for its AI-powered notetakers, is developing a new wearable device specifically for AI agent interaction. The company has ambitious goals, targeting $500 million in annual sales for this upcoming product, building on its existing hardware and subscription business model. Microsoft has also refreshed its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop lines, integrating Qualcomm's latest chips to enhance graphics performance. In the longer term, Apple is reportedly planning to launch new AirPods equipped with cameras in late 2027, as part of a broader strategy to embed AI capabilities into its hardware ecosystem and establish a presence in the AI device market.