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Virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR)

Virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR)
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.
Singapore-based blockchain entrepreneur Vignesh Sundaresan (right), also known as Metakovan, has opened a new experimental art and technology space, Padimai Art & Tech Studio, in Singapore, whose first commission is a virtual reality work by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson (left). Photo: Yanina Isla
Art

Singaporean buyer of US$69 million Beeple NFT opens art and technology space

Vignesh Sundaresan explains the aim behind Padimai Art & Tech Studio, which opens with a virtual reality work by artist Olafur Eliasson.

Meta Platforms

Meta plans budget cuts as high as 30% to its metaverse efforts

Apple

Ex-Apple engineer unveils chip to rival Vision Pro for XR headsets, AI glasses

China Future Tech briefing

AI | Smart-glasses makers see AI as long-awaited must-have app

Chinese smart-glasses makers, such as Rokid and Alibaba, and global giant Meta are counting on artificial intelligence to kick-start demand for the devices.

Smart-glasses makers see AI as long-awaited must-have app
2025 National Games

Andy Lau, Joey Yung among Hong Kong stars performing at National Games opening

Opening ceremony will showcase regional cultural elements using advanced technologies, including AI and virtual reality.

Apple

Apple’s M5 Vision Pro is made in Vietnam in latest China shift

Though the Vision Pro is one of Apple’s lowest-volume products, the move underscores the company’s shift away from China.

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Art

They’re training AI on nuclear trauma, war zones and teeth launched into space

Forget mountains and rivers. At Tai Kwun, creatives transform glitchy algorithms, viral robots and memory into their medium.

Two Walls – Ordinary War Rehearsal (2025), by Wu Ziyang. Photo: courtesy Wu Ziyang
Chinese culture

China’s Sanxingdui Museum eyes future tech to showcase national treasures abroad

As China steps up soft power push, curators seek ways to engage a broader audience without putting national treasures at risk.

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Icons and Influencers

Video | VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

Behind the animated avatars are real people who offer a glimpse into the new industry and how they connect with fans on a deeply personal level, forming devoted communities worldwide.

Icons and Influencers

Video | VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

Already selling out concerts in New York, Hong Kong and Japan, VTubers are transforming what it means to be an entertainer, without ever revealing their real faces.

VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment
13:35
Meta Platforms

Meta says smart glasses with built-in display a step towards ‘superintelligence’

While Meta has been at the forefront of developing smart glasses, it trails rivals such as OpenAI in rolling out advanced AI models.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wears the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses during an event at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, September 17, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Google’s AI glasses rumoured to be made in Taiwan, possibly by HTC

Google is rumoured to have completed its first AI-enabled glasses, but has yet to decide on a contract manufacturer.

Apple

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo challenges Apple’s VR headset

Device resembles Vision Pro in name, design and interface, but weighs 35 per cent less and is likely to cost one-third as much.

Google

Meet the Chinese start-up behind Google’s Android XR glasses

Despite waves of hype, mixed-reality technology has yet to achieve mainstream adoption due to high costs, hardware limitations and application scarcity.

Project Aura’s AR glasses are powered by Android XR. Photo: handout
Mobile payments

Ant Group pushes wider adoption of AI-enabled smart glasses for mobile payments

The first such payment outside mainland China was recently completed in Hong Kong, using the AlipayHK app and Meizu’s StarV smart glasses.

With mobile payments functionality, AI-powered smart glasses are expected to see increased adoption worldwide. Photo: Handout
US-China tech war

US pushes Vietnam to decouple from Chinese tech, sources say

Vietnam has been asked ‘to reduce its dependency on Chinese hi-tech’, say one of the people familiar with the discussions.

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Apple

Apple’s most sweeping software redesign disappoints mainland Chinese consumers

The hashtag ‘iOS26 Ugly’ was microblogging app Weibo’s top-trending topic on Tuesday, as thousands of netizens expressed their discontent.

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Artificial intelligence

Chinese AR glasses maker Rokid is going global with Alibaba partnership

Rokid will launch its AR Spatial glasses on AliExpress through the platform’s ‘BigSave’ programme, shaving off about US$100 off the US$650 eyewear.

Rokid is launching its AR glasses overseas this month using Alibaba’s AliExpress platform. Photo: Rokid
Artificial intelligence

Meta partners with US military contractor to develop VR helmets

The ‘sci-fi-style military helmet’ named ‘Eagle Eye’ is one of several advanced products being developed for the US military.

Apple

Apple aims to launch smart glasses in 2026 in push into AI devices

The iPhone maker is looking to join the emerging trend of AI-powered devices – an area where it faces fresh competition.

Artificial intelligence

Meet Chinese start-up Xreal, Google’s partner in AR glasses project

Project Aura provides a big boost to Xreal’s credentials in the smart glasses arena, while widening its reach in the international market.

The Project Aura eyewear from Xreal and Google is expected to compete with other augmented reality spectacles from the likes of Meta Platforms, Orion and Artemis. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

Google unveils flurry of upgrades as AI threatens search business

The tech giant has announced an AI mode for all search users in the US, as well as more advanced capabilities via subscriptions.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai addresses the crowd during the company’s annual I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Geely-owned DreamSmart to push mobile payments via AI smart glasses

DreamSmart is working with Ant International to enable mobile payments for users of its StarV Air2 eyewear.

Metaverse

Facebook owner Meta lays off more than 100 employees in Reality Labs

The job cuts affected staff focused on creating VR experiences for Meta’s Quest headsets, and those working on hardware.

Art

Can AI-driven art offer real social commentary? This artist thinks so

Inhwa Yeom uses XR and AI to create artworks offering social commentary; catch her at the Hong Kong Arts Centre’s ‘Future Tense’ exhibition.

Inhwa Yeom uses XR and AI to create artworks offering social commentary; catch her at the Hong Kong Arts Centre’s “Future Tense” exhibition. Photo: courtesy Inhwa Yeom
Apple

Apple prepares major interface revamp for iPhone, iPad and Mac

Loosely based on the Vision Pro headset’s software, the new design could help revive demand for Apple’s iPhones.

Apple is preparing a dramatic software overhaul for its smartphones, tablets and computers. Photo: dpa
Artificial intelligence

Rokid’s AI-infused AR glasses wow China with real-world demo

A demonstration by company founder Misa Zhu at a government event has gone viral on social media and sparked a stock market frenzy.

Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s AI models give boost to China’s smart glasses sector to take on Meta

The start-up’s powerful and cost-efficient models have “fundamentally reshaped the economics of AI deployment’, smart glasses maker Rokid’s founder says.

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