Another AR hardware executive leaves Google

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(XR Navigation Network January 06, 2024)according toBusiness InsiderReport.Googlehas lost another key figure in charge of augmented reality devices. Paul Greco, vice president for engineering, has left the company and is pursuing new opportunities, people familiar with the matter said. A Google spokesperson has confirmed Greco's departure, but declined to comment on the details.

Glico was a once-prominent start-up companyMagic Leap的首席技术官，而他于2021年接受了谷歌的橄榄枝，并在后面领导了命运多舛的智能眼镜Iris的硬件研发工作。

Iris项目已于2023年暂停。据多名现任和前任员工透露，谷歌做出这一决定的部分原因是选择，高层最终选择专注于软件层面，并与三星合作开发一款更类似于appleVisionProThe headset, codenamed Moohan.

After Iris was axed, Greco joined a new team and attempted to develop a product using technology from Raxium, which Google acquired in 2022. But insiders said the team Gleicko joined behind was constrained by other AR projects. Two people familiar with the matter noted that Samsung executives had told Google that they didn't want Google's other AR teams to have access to Moohan's technology.

Before Greco, Eddie Chung and Mark Lucovsky were among the key Iris team leaders who left.

According to earlier reports, Google has been indecisive about AR, with executives often drastically redirecting it and deciding to abandon Iris, the smart glasses, in 2023.

However, Google still believes there is potential for AR, but has chosen to take a more Android-like approach due to the uncertainty. Currently, Google is developing a dedicated AR software operating system and licensing it to hardware partners.

Additionally, Google currently has two internal eyewear prototypes, Betty and Barry, which are primarily used to build and demonstrate the new software platform. According to a person familiar with the matter, Google has made more variants for different types of AR glasses that it plans to show off to potential partners. The insider said that Google is putting together the upcoming Las VegasCESThe Congress was seen as an opportunity to seek partnerships.

It's worth noting that in addition to Moohan, Samsung may still choose to partner with Google on smart glasses, and sources say to expect that they may want an exclusive deal.