Snap gets serious about Specs, spins AR glasses into standalone company

Snap is preparing to launch the latest consumer version of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, known as Specs, later this year. To enhance focus and streamline development, Snap has spun off the AR glasses division into a standalone company. This move reflects Snap’s commitment to advancing its AR hardware, which has been in development for over a decade. The current iteration, the fifth generation of Specs, runs on Snap OS—a proprietary operating system launched in September 2023—and features advanced capabilities such as four cameras for hand tracking, the Snap Spatial Engine for projecting AR imagery, and AI-powered functions like “spatial tips” that provide contextual information about the user’s environment. During a recent demo, the glasses showcased several innovative features including an improved browser, a travel mode for translating foreign text, and interactive AR games like Avatar: The Last Airbender. The devices also support synchronized experiences, allowing multiple users to share the same AR environment simultaneously, which opens possibilities for collaborative gaming and social interactions. However,