Qualcomm has introduced its new Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 processor, designed to enhance the functionality of smart glasses by enabling AI processing directly on the device. This innovation eliminates the need for a connected phone or cloud service for tasks like AI functions, allowing users to carry out daily activities solely with their smart glasses.
Key Improvements in the AR1+ Gen 1
A major upgrade in the AR1+ Gen 1 is its more compact size, which is approximately 28% smaller than its predecessor, the AR1 Gen 1. This reduction allows manufacturers to design glasses with 20% shorter temple arms, contributing to a sleeker, more comfortable fit. Additionally, the new chip is more power-efficient, improving performance during tasks like computer vision, voice wake-up, Bluetooth playback, and video streaming.
Enhanced Image Quality and Camera Features
The Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 processor also boosts the image quality of smart glasses. It supports binocular displays, image stabilization, and a multi-frame engine, ensuring smoother visuals. The chip enables the glasses’ camera to capture 12MP photos and 6MP videos, and offers advanced features like face detection and facial landmark recognition.
On-Device AI for Smarter Interaction
One of the most groundbreaking features of the AR1+ Gen 1 is its ability to run on-device AI. Powered by Qualcomm’s third-generation Hexagon NPU, the processor can run small language models with up to 1 billion parameters, such as Llama 1B, directly on the glasses. This allows users to interact with an AI assistant, giving voice commands and receiving text responses displayed right on the smart glasses. Qualcomm claims this is the first time an autoregressive generative AI model has been fully integrated into a pair of smart glasses.
The Future of Smart Glasses
The new Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 chip promises to make future smart glasses more compact, independent, and capable of running advanced AI tasks without relying on external devices. This chip is a significant step towards making smart glasses a truly standalone wearable technology.
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