Company GoogleAI is re-entering the augmented reality market with an operating system that justifies its years-long investment in augmented reality and virtual reality Android. According to Google’s statement, this system will be used in future headphones and glasses.

The first version that the public will see will be the mixed reality headset Project Moohan developed by Samsung. It will be available for purchase next year, but details on that are scarce. Developers have access to the new version Android.

“We’ve been in this space since Google Glass and haven’t stopped,” said Justin Payne, Google’s XR product director, in a video celebrating the launch of Android XR. Talking about projects such as Google Lens, Live View for Maps, instant translation with the help of the camera and universal AI Gemini, Google promises to offer similar applications both in special headphones and ordinary glasses.

Apart from an image of the headset and samples in a Google video, very few additional details are known so far. The list of possible built-in Google features includes Gemini, Maps, Photos, Translate, Chrome, Search Circle, and Messages. Additionally, existing or at least Android applications to be updated must also be available on the new platform.

Judging by the video and descriptions, Project Moohan targets the same application areas as Apple’s Vision Pro, with an emphasis on family photos, TV watching and productivity rather than a gaming VR headset.

Android XR, meanwhile, is aimed at augmented reality glasses like Snap’s Spectacles smart glasses. This week, Google released a video highlighting an update to Project Astra, an AI assistant for wearable devices. Google’s previous AR platform, Google Glass, didn’t see much adoption among consumers but has survived as an enterprise-focused device for certain use cases.