By: Gaynelle Brautigam, Head of Innovation, Tactical

The fusion of Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping up to be one of the most transformative technological advancements of our time. As XR wearables become more accessible and AI models grow increasingly sophisticated, 2025 looks to be a pivotal year for innovations in this space. Key trends in computer vision, generative AI, and XR wearables are set to redefine how we interact with technology and the world around us.

XR and AI synergy

Everyone working in XR will know that computer vision is at the core of Augmented Reality, long before it got as hyped up as AI is now. In 2025, AI will be coming into our spatial world with XR as the delivery vehicle. The automotive industry has been leading the way with a wide range of driving assistance. Companies like Tesla are taking their automotive experience into new spaces with autonomous vehicles and robots.

In 2024, there was a wider adoption of generative AI for the production pipeline from concept art to production in the form of co-pilots for coding and the first 3D model generators. Almost every big company invested heavily in AI—Snapchat, for instance, released a full GenAI suite earlier in the year. Robust models for object detection, segmentation, scene understanding, and understanding the relationships between objects became more prevalent. Looking ahead, optimized models are expected to run in real-time for AR purposes in 2025.

XR Wearables

2024 was a big year for XR glasses, marked by the highly anticipated release of the Apple Vision Pro. Apple took a completely different approach compared to other major releases, such as the Magic Leap or Google Glass. Notably, the company deliberately avoided making a dramatic change in terms of user experience, instead focusing on 2.5D experiences with floating panels and curved cinematic visuals that offered subtle immersion. The introduction of spatial computing signaled the dawn of more natural inputs, potentially rendering trackpads and keyboards obsolete. Interestingly, many of the gestures supported by the Apple Vision Pro are not yet available, providing a gradual transition into this new way of interacting with interfaces. The fully immersive experiences are setting a new standard for entertainment. The NFL Super Bowl experience, for example, puts you right in the center of the action. Walk through the tunnel shoulder-to-shoulder with the players, and experience the match from a completely new perspective- on the field. A powerful new way to watch sports, even for non-sports fans.

Meta’s launch of its first true AR glasses, Orion, introduced natural inputs such as voice, eye, and hand tracking, demonstrating a significant step forward. In 2025, further advancements and investments in optics are anticipated. Apple is reportedly investing heavily in content, forming impressive partnerships to reinvent entertainment within this new medium.  

Additionally, rumors of a more budget-friendly Apple Vision Air indicate the potential for higher adoption rates. Equally exciting is the Samsung x Google Partnership, a lightweight wearable that brings Google Gemini to the real world. ‘Android XR’, the developer platform, is taking Google Lens features to wearables! The XR industry’s growing momentum is unlocking exciting opportunities for consumers and enterprises alike.

The Future is Immersive

As XR and AI technologies continue to converge, 2025 is set to be a year of groundbreaking developments. From the seamless integration of AI into AR experiences to the growing adoption of XR wearables, these advancements will redefine our interactions with the digital and physical worlds. By embracing these innovations, we can look forward to a future where technology feels more intuitive, immersive, and impactful than ever before.