With Attention Shifting To AI Smart Glasses, VR Faces Another Reality Check
Computerworld, Friday, February 27th, 2026
Despite a burst of popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AR/VR industry now seems adrift as companies try to decide how best to use the range of devices available.
As tech vendors shift their attention to AI-enabled smart glasses, the momentum behind virtual reality (VR) headsets appears to slowing once again.
It's not the first time the technology has seen expectations outstrip real-world demand. An initial wave of interest in the early 1990s generated predictions of mainstream adoption, before fading as the decade progressed.