https://www.scmp.com/rss/326777/feed Tech companies are actively pursuing developments in virtual reality - which involves creating an interactive virtual world using body motion tracking and headsets - and its sister technology, augmented reality, which combines real world and virtual data into the experience. Find out the latest developments in these industries right here. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Emily Hung Emily Hung Eight-year-old Aidan was terrified at the prospect of having to undergo an operation at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kowloon Bay in 2024. But his fears eased once he put on a virtual reality (VR) headset. Guided by a panda character, the VR programme gave him knowledge of what to expect. It allowed him to walk down the corridor and explore the operating theatre, pick the colours of medical staff’s gowns and choose how he wanted to be anaesthetised – down to the flavour of sleep-inducing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran 2.5/5 stars Lead cast: Jisoo, Seo In-guk Coming just two weeks after Love Phobia, Boyfriend on Demand is the second K-drama of the year to focus on AI dating. With Netflix behind it and the star wattage of Blackpink’s Jisoo (Newtopia) and Seo In-guk (Death’s Game) leading the cast, this new show is undoubtedly the bigger production, but it approaches its timely subject matter in a similarly muddled fashion. Though not based on a webtoon, the series takes place in the world of digital comics,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345647/netflix-k-drama-boyfriend-demand-review-ai-dating-romcom-jisoo-too-conventional?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3345647/netflix-k-drama-boyfriend-demand-review-ai-dating-romcom-jisoo-too-conventional?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:15 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen The artificial intelligence boom has swept through consumer electronics – from smart wearables and AI-powered home devices to voice-interactive toys and robotic pets – but its most significant impact may be on the interface itself. Technology is moving off the screen and onto the face, with smart glasses increasingly seen as the next frontier. “The next interaction revolution will happen right in front of our eyes – driven by AI agents and the inevitable miniaturisation of hardware,” said Wu... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344101/next-interface-race-how-ai-bringing-smart-glasses-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344101/next-interface-race-how-ai-bringing-smart-glasses-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:38:47 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service In a retirement home in Dallas, Texas, Theresa Steward is skydiving. The 74-year-old American squeals and yelps as the ground rushes up and snow-capped mountains slide past. Her body lurches forward, and she grabs at the air to steady herself. After landing safely, she appears relieved but exhilarated. Steward’s experience was conducted in virtual reality (VR), with a headset that took her on a wild adventure from indoors. “I’m glad I experienced that because I never would do skydiving,” Steward... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341258/how-vr-experiences-can-help-elderly-people-boost-their-mental-health-and-battle-loneliness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341258/how-vr-experiences-can-help-elderly-people-boost-their-mental-health-and-battle-loneliness?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Dozens of Chinese makers of smart glasses dazzled the exhibition floor at the recent CES trade show in Las Vegas, where they showed lightweight, artificial intelligence-powered eyewear aimed at a category that has been largely defined by Meta Platforms’ Ray-Ban Display. At the four-day annual trade show, which concluded on Friday, Chinese brands made up most of the roughly 60 smart eyewear exhibitors. Their products ranged from audio-first frames designed for all-day wear to augmented reality... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339425/chinese-smart-eyewear-makers-shine-ces-focus-challenging-meta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339425/chinese-smart-eyewear-makers-shine-ces-focus-challenging-meta?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 05:06:44 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Lau Wai has a knack for making serious points with comedic flair. For the 2017 series “Profile Picture”, the Hong Kong artist, who uses they/them pronouns, superimposed features from Japanese sci-fi anime characters on their own blurred headshots as a humorous reference to the genre’s outsized influence on gender roles for Lau’s generation. In 2018’s “The Memories of Tomorrow”, Lau reconstructed 20th-century Hollywood depictions of Hong Kong with jarring, futuristic elements to highlight the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3338529/hong-kong-artist-lau-wais-digital-clones-spark-identity-crisis-new-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3338529/hong-kong-artist-lau-wais-digital-clones-spark-identity-crisis-new-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:18:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese smart glasses maker RayNeo on Monday said it secured funding from the country’s major state telecommunications operators, as eyewear emerges as the next gadget with the ability to access artificial intelligence services along with smartphones. The investment from subsidiaries of China Unicom and China Mobile comes as RayNeo debuts the world’s first consumer augmented reality (AR) glasses integrated with eSIM and 4G connectivity at CES, the annual consumer electronics trade show in Las... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3338776/chinas-telecoms-giants-bet-ar-smart-glasses-major-investment-rayneo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3338776/chinas-telecoms-giants-bet-ar-smart-glasses-major-investment-rayneo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:33 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang In October, as Simon Li finished speaking at an international conference about embracing technological innovation in education, several Chinese history educators approached him with a potent, pressing question: could a virtual reality (VR) project about the 1937 Nanking massacre become the next pedagogical frontier? Li, executive director of the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre, recalled it as an electrifying moment. “They were genuinely energised, saying that such a programme could help... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336345/virtual-reality-and-nanking-massacre-where-does-historical-immersion-become-trauma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336345/virtual-reality-and-nanking-massacre-where-does-historical-immersion-become-trauma?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 02:00:15 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Alipay and artificial intelligence glasses maker Rokid have jointly unveiled a smart glasses payment solution on the Rokid Lingzhu AI development platform, giving developers an easy path to build payment functions into their applications. Based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source standard that connects AI applications to external systems, the service allowed developers to easily integrate pre-built capabilities, such as receiving payments, by adding plug-ins, according to a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3336237/alipay-and-rokid-open-look-and-pay-smart-glasses-function-developers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3336237/alipay-and-rokid-open-look-and-pay-smart-glasses-function-developers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:00:10 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Chinese augmented reality start-up Xreal has teamed up with Google on Project Aura, a venture to launch artificial intelligence glasses powered by the Android XR operating system and Gemini AI next year, in a fresh example of Chinese capabilities in research and development. Project Aura, resembling a pair of thick sunglasses, was first announced at Google’s annual I/O developer conference in May. The device runs on Android XR, a unified platform for extended reality (XR) devices built through a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336055/chinas-xreal-power-googles-android-ai-glasses-smart-eyewear-demand-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336055/chinas-xreal-power-googles-android-ai-glasses-smart-eyewear-demand-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese man has sought help from a mobile game to restore the virtual house his late wife built so that he can continue remembering her, moving many people online. The Beijing man posted under the handle @chuwengeileyan on November 26 that the virtual houses he and his wife built in the game ShanHai suddenly disappeared. ShanHai is an open-world survival crafting game based on the ancient Chinese mythology Shanhai Jing, translated in English as “The Classic of Mountains and Seas”. A user can... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3335173/china-husband-seeks-help-after-late-wifes-virtual-house-legacy-video-game-was-torn-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3335173/china-husband-seeks-help-after-late-wifes-virtual-house-legacy-video-game-was-torn-down?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Joseph Koh Joseph Koh Singapore-based “technopreneur” Vignesh Sundaresan, who goes by the nickname MetaKovan online, grabbed global attention in March 2021 when he splashed out US$69 million on the non-fungible token (NFT) artwork Everydays: the First 5,000 Days by American digital artist Mike Winkelmann, better known as Beeple. That record-breaking bid supercharged a speculative frenzy in NFTs. The Indian-born investor later boasted in a TV interview that he was prepared to pay even more, so convinced was he that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3335276/singaporean-buyer-us69-million-beeple-nft-opens-art-and-technology-space?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3335276/singaporean-buyer-us69-million-beeple-nft-opens-art-and-technology-space?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to cut resources for building the so-called metaverse, an effort that he once framed as the future of the company and the reason for changing its name from Facebook. Executives were considering potential budget cuts as high as 30 per cent for the metaverse group next year, which includes the virtual worlds product Meta Horizon Worlds and its Quest virtual reality (VR) unit, according to people familiar with the talks, who asked not to be named while... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3335264/meta-plans-budget-cuts-high-30-its-metaverse-efforts-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3335264/meta-plans-budget-cuts-high-30-its-metaverse-efforts-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:19:38 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang A Chinese start-up founded by a Stanford University graduate, who previously worked for Apple’s extended reality (XR) unit, is attracting attention for developing a chip that can power headsets and artificial intelligence glasses. Founded by Wang Chaohao, GravityXR last week showcased China’s first all-in-one mixed reality (MR) chip, the Jizhi G-X100, which uses the advanced 5-nanometre node. The product, part of a new line of chips that claim to surpass Apple in certain metrics, has attracted... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3335059/ex-apple-engineer-unveils-chinese-chip-rival-vision-pro-xr-headsets-ai-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3335059/ex-apple-engineer-unveils-chinese-chip-rival-vision-pro-xr-headsets-ai-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:00:16 +0000 Ben Jiang,Ann Cao Ben Jiang,Ann Cao Smart glasses have been technology’s “next big thing” for at least a decade without actually getting very far. Chinese companies now hope that new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) could make the sector take off. Start-ups, such as Rokid, Xreal, Meizu and Rayneo, have introduced AI-powered smart glasses in China this year, along with established tech giants Xiaomi, Baidu and Alibaba. Facebook owner Meta, the global market leader, also debuted the AI-powered Meta Ray-Ban Display... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334327/smart-glasses-makers-see-ai-long-awaited-killer-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334327/smart-glasses-makers-see-ai-long-awaited-killer-app?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin The National Games’ opening ceremony on Sunday evening will showcase regional cultural elements using advanced technologies, including AI and virtual reality, with Cantopop stars Andy Lau Tak-wah and Joey Yung Cho-yee among performers. The 75-minute ceremony will be staged at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre in Guangzhou starting at 8pm, displaying the cultural heritage and integrated development of the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong is a co-host of the Games with Guangdong province and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332097/andy-lau-joey-yung-among-hong-kong-stars-performing-national-games-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332097/andy-lau-joey-yung-among-hong-kong-stars-performing-national-games-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 08:52:59 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple’s new Vision Pro headset does not offer much in the way of fresh features, but the company made a notable change to its production. The latest model, which goes on sale Wednesday with the new M5 processor and more comfortable band, is assembled in Vietnam, according to labels on its packaging. The original model, which debuted in February 2024 with the M2 processor, was initially built in China. Though the Vision Pro is one of Apple’s lowest-volume products, the move underscores the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329868/apples-m5-vision-pro-made-vietnam-latest-china-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329868/apples-m5-vision-pro-made-vietnam-latest-china-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:00:38 +0000 Lavender Au Lavender Au Last October, artist Wu Ziyang travelled to Kyiv, where he learned an unexpected rule of survival: if you find yourself under a drone attack, put two walls between you and the machine. Wu had flown into Moldova and taken a train to Ukraine’s capital, after being shortlisted for an award from the PinchukArtCentre. During the ride, three engineers heading home to Ukraine from France shared stories with him about the oligarch who founded the contemporary art centre, then quizzed Wu, who hails from... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329393/new-generation-chinese-artists-are-defying-stereotypes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329393/new-generation-chinese-artists-are-defying-stereotypes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 02:15:08 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China’s Sanxingdui archaeological site – considered a cornerstone of early Chinese civilisation from 4,500 years ago – is pioneering digital exhibitions to show a broader international audience its immense collection, including top national treasures not permitted to travel overseas. Yu Jian, deputy director of the Sanxingdui Museum in southwestern China, said the institution planned to show its artefacts at an international exhibition next year. Final plans for the exhibition required state... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327040/chinas-sanxingdui-museum-eyes-future-tech-showcase-ancient-treasures-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327040/chinas-sanxingdui-museum-eyes-future-tech-showcase-ancient-treasures-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 02:00:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters Meta Platforms on Wednesday launched its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display, seeking to extend the momentum of its Ray-Ban line, one of the early consumer hits of the artificial intelligence era. CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off what he called the Meta Ray-Ban Display, although some demos of the new technology did not go as planned, with a call to the glasses failing to go through, for instance. “I don’t know what to tell you guys,” Zuckerberg said. “I keep on messing this... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325936/meta-launches-smart-glasses-built-display-reaching-superintelligence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325936/meta-launches-smart-glasses-built-display-reaching-superintelligence?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 02:33:55 +0000 DigiTimes DigiTimes Taiwan’s Quanta and HTC are seen as possible contract manufacturers for Google’s imminent AI glasses, as such products are expected to emerge as essential mobile devices that will drive rapid expansion across the industry. Google is rumoured to have completed development of its first artificial intelligence-enabled glasses, which are reportedly to be made in Taiwan. But the US search giant has yet to decide on a contract manufacturer. Quanta was in charge of prototype design and is a strong... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322964/googles-ai-glasses-rumoured-be-made-taiwan-possibly-htc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322964/googles-ai-glasses-rumoured-be-made-taiwan-possibly-htc?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 05:58:12 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese smartphone maker Vivo unveiled a mixed-reality headset that resembles Apple’s Vision Pro in name, design and interface, but weighs about 35 per cent less and is likely to cost one third as much. The Vivo Vision is similar to the Apple gadget that is controlled with intuitive eye tracking and hand gestures, according to information published on Vivo’s website on Thursday. But the Vivo device weighs 398 grams, much less than its US rival, which weighs at least 600g, addressing one of the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322883/chinese-smartphone-maker-vivo-challenges-apple-vision-pro-cheaper-lighter-vr-headset?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322883/chinese-smartphone-maker-vivo-challenges-apple-vision-pro-cheaper-lighter-vr-headset?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Xreal, the Chinese augmented reality start-up behind Google’s first Android XR-powered augmented reality (AR) glasses, is gearing up for the mass-market release of its lightweight eyewear as early as the first quarter of 2026, its co-founder said. Code-named Project Aura, the product was first announced at Google’s annual I/O developer conference in May. Rivalling offerings from Apple and Meta Platforms, Google adopted a strategy from its smartphone playbook: providing the operating system –... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3316645/meet-chinese-start-behind-googles-android-xr-powered-augmented-reality-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3316645/meet-chinese-start-behind-googles-android-xr-powered-augmented-reality-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese fintech giant Ant Group is pushing the wider adoption of smart glasses to facilitate digital transactions, extending the reach of mobile payments beyond smartphones. The first such payment outside mainland China was recently completed in Hong Kong using Meizu’s StarV smart glasses, according to a statement on Thursday by the company, an affiliate of Post owner Alibaba Group Holding. That transaction was made via AlipayHK, the Hong Kong platform of Ant Group’s flagship Alipay app, using... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3315111/ant-group-pushes-wider-adoption-ai-enabled-smart-glasses-mobile-payments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3315111/ant-group-pushes-wider-adoption-ai-enabled-smart-glasses-mobile-payments?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 23:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters The US was pushing Vietnam in tariff talks to reduce the use of Chinese tech in devices that were assembled in the country before being exported to America, three people briefed on the matter said. Vietnam is home to large manufacturing operations of tech firms such as Apple and Samsung Electronics, which often rely on components made in China. Meta Platforms and Google also have contractors in Vietnam that produce goods such as virtual reality headsets and smartphones. The Southeast Asian... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3314676/us-pushes-vietnam-decouple-chinese-tech-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3314676/us-pushes-vietnam-decouple-chinese-tech-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 02:18:32 +0000 Hannah Wang Hannah Wang Mainland Chinese consumers were left unimpressed by Apple’s most sweeping software redesign in its history, according to domestic social media posts on Tuesday, at a time when the US technology giant faces growing headwinds in the world’s largest smartphone market. Apple on Monday previewed a new software interface design, called Liquid Glass, during the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference held at its US headquarters in Cupertino, California. For the very first time, the new design... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3313888/apples-most-sweeping-software-redesign-disappoints-mainland-chinese-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3313888/apples-most-sweeping-software-redesign-disappoints-mainland-chinese-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:00:13 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Rokid, a Chinese maker of augmented reality (AR) glasses, is set to launch its latest AR Spatial eyewear globally through Alibaba Group Holding’s AliExpress e-commerce platform, as the company pushes into overseas markets amid rising competition in the industry. The Hangzhou-based company will debut the glasses overseas on June 16 during the AliExpress 618 summer sale period this month, leveraging the e-commerce giant’s “BigSave” programme to offer a nearly US$100 discount, bringing the cost... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3313482/chinese-ar-glasses-maker-rokid-prepares-global-launch-aliexpress-during-618-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3313482/chinese-ar-glasses-maker-rokid-prepares-global-launch-aliexpress-during-618-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 08:30:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Meta Platforms is partnering with defence contractor Anduril Industries to develop new products for the US military, including an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered helmet with virtual and augmented reality features. Anduril is working with Meta “to design, build, and field a range of integrated [extended-reality (XR)] products that provide warfighters with enhanced perception and enable intuitive control of autonomous platforms on the battlefield,” according to a company blog post published... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3312398/meta-partners-us-military-contractor-anduril-develop-ai-powered-vr-combat-helmets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3312398/meta-partners-us-military-contractor-anduril-develop-ai-powered-vr-combat-helmets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 04:45:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple is aiming to release smart glasses at the end of next year as part of a push into artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced gadgets, but it has shelved plans for a smartwatch that can analyse its surroundings with a built-in camera. Company engineers are ramping up work on the glasses – a rival to Meta Platforms’ popular Ray-Bans – in a bid to meet the year-end 2026 target, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Apple would start producing large quantities of prototypes at the end... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311475/apple-aims-launch-smart-glasses-2026-push-ai-devices-rival-meta-openai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311475/apple-aims-launch-smart-glasses-2026-push-ai-devices-rival-meta-openai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 03:15:55 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Chinese augmented reality (AR) firm Xreal is back in the spotlight via a partnership with Google to create the first eyewear powered by the US tech giant’s Android XR operating system, intensifying competition in the nascent market for spectacles supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The start-up’s venture with Google, dubbed Project Aura, was among the key announcements made on Tuesday at the opening of the US internet search company’s annual I/O developer conference, which... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3311264/what-if-ai-had-eyes-meet-chinese-firm-xreal-googles-partner-ar-glasses-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3311264/what-if-ai-had-eyes-meet-chinese-firm-xreal-googles-partner-ar-glasses-project?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 13:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters Alphabet’s Google said on Tuesday it would put artificial intelligence (AI) into the hands of more web surfers while teasing a US$249.99-a-month subscription for its AI power users, its latest effort to fend off growing competition from start-ups like OpenAI. Google unveiled the plans amid a flurry of demos that included new smart glasses during its annual I/O conference in Mountain View, California, which has adopted a tone of increased urgency since the rise of generative AI challenged the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311147/google-pushes-ai-upgrades-subscriptions-openais-chatgpt-threatens-search-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311147/google-pushes-ai-upgrades-subscriptions-openais-chatgpt-threatens-search-business?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 02:09:53 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Consumer electronics firm DreamSmart Group, owned by Chinese auto giant Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, will soon enable mobile payments via smart glasses, according to an executive, as the race to make eyewear powered by artificial intelligence (AI) more useful to the public heats up. DreamSmart is working with fintech giant Ant International to allow AI smart glass users to make payments, a feature that will be made available on its StarV Air2 eyewear in the third quarter this year, according to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3308252/geely-owned-dreamsmart-push-mobile-payments-ai-glasses-eyes-overseas-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3308252/geely-owned-dreamsmart-push-mobile-payments-ai-glasses-eyes-overseas-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:00:19 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Meta Platforms is laying off more than 100 people across its Reality Labs division focused on creating virtual-reality (VR) and wearable devices, according to a person familiar with the matter. The latest round of job cuts affected Reality Labs staff focused on creating VR experiences for Meta’s Quest headsets, as well as operations-focused employees working on hardware, said the person, who asked not to be named as the details were not public. Meta leadership hoped to streamline similar work... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3307860/facebook-owner-meta-lays-more-100-employees-reality-labs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3307860/facebook-owner-meta-lays-more-100-employees-reality-labs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Apr 2025 04:15:12 +0000 “Operating at the intersection of art and technology” is a near-ubiquitous phrase, often trotted out to define the work of digital artists. Ambiguous and overused, yes, but it’s also where South Korean media artist Inhwa Yeom draws the most freedom. “I don’t think you should have to choose between learning one or the other,” says Yeom. “They’re both just forms of expression.” For Yeom, “new” and “old” are equally fraught. “I don’t even like to call myself a ‘new’ media artist,” she says. “I... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3301265/artist-put-audiences-centre-her-digital-creations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3301265/artist-put-audiences-centre-her-digital-creations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple is preparing one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history, aiming to transform the interface of the iPhone, iPad and Mac for a new generation of users. The revamp – due later this year – will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apple’s various software platforms more consistent, according to people familiar with the effort. That includes updating the style of icons, menus, apps, windows and system buttons. As part of the push, the company... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3301873/apple-prepares-major-interface-revamp-iphone-ipad-and-mac-new-generation-users?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3301873/apple-prepares-major-interface-revamp-iphone-ipad-and-mac-new-generation-users?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2025 03:32:59 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese augmented-reality (AR) device maker Rokid made waves on social media and in the stock market after its founder showed how the start-up’s artificial intelligence (AI) glasses could be used in a real-world setting. While speaking last week at a government event in Rokid’s hometown Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, founder Misa Zhu Mingming had his speech notes projected directly onto a pair of AR glasses he was wearing, instead of reading from a printed script or the prompter. He was... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3300077/rokids-ai-infused-ar-glasses-wow-china-script-projection-smart-ring-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3300077/rokids-ai-infused-ar-glasses-wow-china-script-projection-smart-ring-control?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:00:15 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen DeepSeek’s open-source artificial intelligence (AI) models are injecting fresh momentum into Chinese makers of smart glasses, as the technology enables developers to integrate more advanced capabilities into their products at a lower cost. “DeepSeek’s low-cost, high-price-performance model has fundamentally reshaped the economics of AI deployment,” said Misa Zhu Mingming, founder and chief executive of Hangzhou-based Rokid, a start-up that makes AI-equipped augmented-reality (AR) glasses. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3297806/deepseeks-ai-models-give-fresh-boost-chinas-smart-glasses-sector-take-meta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3297806/deepseeks-ai-models-give-fresh-boost-chinas-smart-glasses-sector-take-meta?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:38 +0000 Bernard Cohen Bernard Cohen Long before the current manifestations of the metaverse, there was Second Life. Established as a virtual and collaborative space in 2003, Second Life had millions of visitors and, according to its developers, Linden Lab, an economy running into billions of US dollars. Since 2019 it has even had its own currency, the Linden Dollar. In Second Life’s heyday, around 2006, films launched, law schools ran courses, multinational corporations opened branches, huge events took place, commercial and... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3295938/inside-beijing-based-artist-cao-feis-virtual-worlds-my-city-yours-exhibition-sydney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3295938/inside-beijing-based-artist-cao-feis-virtual-worlds-my-city-yours-exhibition-sydney?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen CES, the annual consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas that officially kicks off on Tuesday, is seeing a rebound in Chinese exhibitors despite an escalating tech war between Beijing and Washington. More than 1,300 Chinese companies – including 1,212 from the mainland and 98 from Hong Kong – are set to showcase their latest offerings in the major expo organised by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), according to a list on the event website. Together, they comprise more than a quarter... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293437/ces-2025-chinese-companies-return-las-vegas-amid-us-tech-tensions-big-names-absent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293437/ces-2025-chinese-companies-return-las-vegas-amid-us-tech-tensions-big-names-absent?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 02:00:28 +0000 Last week, researchers at City University of Hong Kong announced something quite remarkable. The scientists claimed we will soon be able to taste food through our televisions because they have invented a lickable virtual-reality device. The breakthrough was detailed in a paper titled “Miniaturised, portable gustation interfaces for VR/AR/MR” published by a group headed by Dr Liu Yiming of City U’s department of biomedical engineering. VR, AR, MR stand for virtual reality, augmented reality and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3291187/tastes-your-tv-scientists-invent-device-can-mimic-sugar-salt-and-durian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3291187/tastes-your-tv-scientists-invent-device-can-mimic-sugar-salt-and-durian?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Dec 2024 23:45:07 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung The years roll back from the present day to April 15, 2019, as drone footage of the historic fire that engulfed the Viollet-le-Duc spire of the Notre-Dame de Paris flashes across the screen of the tablet in my hands. A few moments later, I look up and I’m standing in front of the altar of the cavernous cathedral, within a 3D version of Napoleon Bonaparte crowning his virtual wife, Josephine, recreating the monumental 1807 painting, The Coronation of Napoleon. Then, the projections change and I’m... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289624/take-virtual-tour-notre-dame-paris-icon-augmented-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289624/take-virtual-tour-notre-dame-paris-icon-augmented-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:15:13 +0000 Instead of going on language learning trips to other countries, why not order an espresso in an Italian cafe while sitting at home on the couch? What sounds a bit like science fiction is possible with the help of virtual reality (VR). “In virtual environments, learners can actively act and communicate, regardless of location,” says educator Timo Ahlers, who researches VR at the University of Potsdam in Germany. What is VR? “It’s a computer-generated, purely digital environment in which you can... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3288735/could-vr-headsets-become-classroom-staple-experts-their-value-learning-tools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3288735/could-vr-headsets-become-classroom-staple-experts-their-value-learning-tools?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:15:08 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese augmented reality (AR) start-up Rokid has a new pair of lightweight smart glasses that it says will allow it to go head-to-head with Meta Platforms, as it eyes profitability in 2025. The Hangzhou-based company, founded by former Alibaba Group Holding employee Misa Zhu Mingming, on Monday announced the Rokid Glasses, its first AR glasses equipped with large language models (LLMs) – the technology that underpins intelligent chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The glasses use Alibaba’s Tongyi... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3287235/chinese-ar-start-rokid-puts-alibaba-ai-smart-glasses-take-meta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3287235/chinese-ar-start-rokid-puts-alibaba-ai-smart-glasses-take-meta?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:00:09 +0000 Imagine a pair of glasses that could tell you the name and address of anyone you met. Harvard students Caine Ardayfio and Anhphu Nguyen made them a reality in just four days. The students adapted Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and computer software to create spectacles using existing facial recognition technology to identify people in real-time, underscoring the potential for augmented reality (AR) in future. The glasses were able to deliver someone’s name in just under two minutes using an existing... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3286328/ar-glasses-can-tell-names-and-addresses-people-you-meet-expose-huge-privacy-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3286328/ar-glasses-can-tell-names-and-addresses-people-you-meet-expose-huge-privacy-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:15:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple is exploring a push into smart glasses with an internal study of products currently on the market, setting the stage for the company to follow Meta Platforms into an increasingly popular category. The initiative, code-named Atlas, got under way last week and involves gathering feedback from Apple employees on smart glasses, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Additional focus groups are planned for the near future, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3285192/apple-explores-smart-glasses-following-metas-lead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3285192/apple-explores-smart-glasses-following-metas-lead?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:00:16 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding is scaling down its metaverse operations, according to a source familiar with the matter, making it the latest Big Tech company to pull back resources from the once-popular sector. Dozens of employees at Yuanjing, the metaverse unit of e-commerce giant Alibaba, have been laid off, as part of a restructuring that aims to optimise and improve efficiency in the organisation, the source said. Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, did not immediately reply to a request... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3284880/alibaba-cuts-dozens-employees-metaverse-unit-hype-sector-cools-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3284880/alibaba-cuts-dozens-employees-metaverse-unit-hype-sector-cools-down?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Nov 2024 23:00:24 +0000 Matt Haldane Matt Haldane A week before Meta Platforms unveiled a new live translation feature for its latest Ray-Ban smart glasses, I was having some Sichuan theatre translated live in front of my eyes courtesy of a pair of smart glasses made in Shenzhen. Unlike the Ray-Ban frames, the Even Realities G1 glasses use micro-LED projectors and a special layer embedded in the lenses to convey information rather than speakers. It is something I have long wanted in a pair of sleek glasses that I would feel comfortable wearing... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3280965/chinese-smart-glasses-maker-even-realities-puts-displays-first-alternative-vision-meta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3280965/chinese-smart-glasses-maker-even-realities-puts-displays-first-alternative-vision-meta?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:19 +0000 From the annual Fine Art Asia fair, Grammy-nominated classical musicians to a family-friendly science exhibition with an immersive virtual reality experience, there is something for everyone to see this weekend in Hong Kong. 1. Fine Art Asia The Hong Kong art fair, launched in 2006 and known for being the city’s first antiques fair, describes itself as “where classic and contemporary converge”. This year’s edition adds one more element: contemporary design. The new “Collectible Design – Asia... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3280903/5-great-music-and-other-shows-see-hong-kong-weekend-october-4-6?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3280903/5-great-music-and-other-shows-see-hong-kong-weekend-october-4-6?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Oct 2024 05:45:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Facebook parent Meta Platforms will produce its next-generation virtual and augmented reality headsets in Vietnam, creating more than 1,000 jobs, the company said Tuesday. The announcement comes as Vietnam looks to boost its attractiveness as a destination for investment by the world’s biggest companies and a key part of the global supply chain. Speaking at a tech conference in Hanoi, Meta’s global affairs president Nick Clegg said the firm would focus on the production of the Quest 3S headset... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3280665/meta-platforms-will-produce-virtual-reality-headsets-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3280665/meta-platforms-will-produce-virtual-reality-headsets-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:04:30 +0000 Reuters Reuters Facebook owner Meta Platforms is planning to announce this week that it has secured deals with actors including Judi Dench, Kristen Bell and John Cena to give voice to its Meta AI chatbot, a source familiar with the company’s plans told Reuters on Monday. The new audio feature will offer users the option to select a voice for Meta’s ChatGPT-like digital assistant from a list of five celebrities, who also include Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key, as well as several generic voice options, the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279697/metas-ai-chatbot-get-voices-awkwafina-judi-dench-other-celebrities-source-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279697/metas-ai-chatbot-get-voices-awkwafina-judi-dench-other-celebrities-source-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Sep 2024 04:00:17 +0000