A few weeks ago, I suggested checking out the Vision Pro, the highly expected device from Apple, now gaining online (and offline) popularity. I've previously discussed Virtual Reality (VR) in my newsletter. In a previous analysis, I mentioned that virtual reality seemed to be forgotten, despite ongoing investments driven by Big Tech, favoring AI.

VR took a backseat as AI became the center of attention for a certain period of time, at least from the press news point of view. Companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Meta continued to invest and develop solutions for the VR world (Microsoft with Microsoft Mesh, Apple with the Apple Vision Pro and Meta with the Metaverse). The last weeks have been on the hype for the technology since Apple released its Vision Pro, a VR headset that is opening the category to the consumers, or at least making consumers considering the category more than it ever happened before.

Whenever Apple releases new hardware, it generates a lot of excitement. This has prompted media to discuss the Apple Vision Pro and publish many reviews. You probably have read more than one before reading this update, but, spoiler, this is not a review.

AI and VR to partner together

AI and VR are both hot topics, even if they cover different segments. AI is extremely popular both in consumer and enterprise segment, while VR is probably more popular in only the consumer segment (apart from specific Augmented Reality - AR - use cases). VR is predominantly linked to entertainment. The two occasionally converge like straight lines along their trajectory, yet they are still perceived as separate entities. They are not. These areas, which might seem different to some, are very close and depend on each other. More specifically, both VR and AR rely a lot on AI. They are, but especially will be, highly correlated.

I based this opinion on the fact that the development of AI will definitely affect and target VR and AR content and usability. In fact, AI, especially Generative AI, can generate a lot of whole new content starting from a prompt or an input, thus to change and personalize new virtual spaces at ease while, at the same time assuring an infinite number of ever changing user experiences. From the usability side, AI will make headset and technology simpler to use. Take the Apple Vision Pro. There are no joysticks, mouses, or keyboard, just gestures that you can use and voice and eyes tracking that you can use to navigate.

And there are some ventures where AI is used to delivering the entire experience using no apps, a sort of paradigm shift from what we are used to. That’s the case of AI Pin from Humane.

Let me say: better the AI, better the commands. Using great AI can enhance command accuracy and prevent you from appearing “eccentric” while using a headset in public and making funny movements with your hands 😂.

Entertainment vs Productivity

Last week, I was reading Ben Thompson's review on Stratechery about the Apple Vision Pro. Ben Thompson describes the Apple Vision Pro as an impressive device for entertainment but very unripe for daily usage to make productive tasks, at least right now. When talking about “productive tasks” I get the meaning to use a headset as we use today a smartphone or a PC. Probably the headset should cover a hybrid version of the two giving the power of the PC with the portability of a smartphone.

I was not expecting something different from what Ben Thompson declared. The Vision Pro is the first of its category and even if Apple usually delivers great hardwares from day one it’s normal that, at this stage of the technology, the headset still has strong limitations. However, extending the use to productivity is promising; such use will be more common as hardware and society grow together with developers’ attention on the theme. If you need to be productive on the Vision Pro, you need productivity apps, of course. For example, Microsoft developed and released its famous M365 apps for the Apple Vision Pro.

From Ben Thompson, Stratechery

The weird: using VR as AR

I've watched and read a lot of reviews about the Vision Pro. You can find the one that I believe being the most valuable in the section at the end of this update. They include The Verge, Wired and Wall Street Journal.

But, as always happens, one review caught my attention. It's that kind of review that after you close the tab, it doesn't let you stop thinking and reflecting. In fact, it really pushed me to write this update.

You can watch it here:

Casey Neistat is a pretty famous YouTuber, with a channel that is reaching 13 million subscribers. I find many of his videos very interesting, especially when he reviews products or talks about brands. Besides the visual aspect, his videos always provide food for thought. The review (or daily usage) of the Apple Vision Pro is no exception.

This is not a technical review, but an approach to life with the new Apple headset. Casey Neistat's unique walk and the way the screen appeared from left to right makes the whole thing interesting but really weird because he is using a VR headset as an AR headset. That’s the point!

Virtual reality (VR) creates an isolating effect that separates the viewer from the surrounding world, while augmented reality (AR) enhances the world by providing more information about what's around the viewer. Casey Neistat's uncertain walking shows exactly how isolating VR can be together with the fact that the world he is seeing is “filtered”. The Apple Vision Pro, in fact, allows you to see the surrounding reality, but always through a screen, giving a digital replica of the world. People being unable to look into the eyes and not being able to see where the user is looking increases the sense of isolation.

Apart from the weird attitude this could have, there is also an important business aspect in this. Nilay Patel's review on The Verge thoroughly explains it:

What is affordable today with VR is currently not affordable with AR. The weird is that until we will have full AR, we need to adapt to new ways of interacting with and understanding each other. For instance, interpreting someone's gaze will become a challenge and the reality a person is experiencing through the device could be entirely different from what we might assume. The physical world and the digital realities a conversation partner may be immersed in can diverge significantly, making it difficult to grasp what the partner is actually seeing or experiencing. By the way, it’s not time to be too dramatic. I’m not expecting people going around with VR headset; I’m expecting VR to be a solo experience as it has been designed …with some outsiders.

It’s an incremental journey. The promise? Having a Casey Neistat review without the weird part.

📚My Readings

Articles, videos and podcasts I find interesting