Google CEO Sundar Pichai 'excited' by Apple's Vision Pro

Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently spoke about Apple's Vision Pro augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) headset, sharing his enthusiasm for the technology.

Pichai, while speaking to Bloomberg, stated that he is "excited" about the potential of Apple's $3,499 Vision Pro headset, which marks the beginning of the spatial computing era.

Although he admitted to not having personally tried the Apple Vision Pro headset, he emphasised that Google has long believed that computing would evolve beyond the confines of today's smartphones, often referred to as "black rectangles".

Pichai also addressed the future integration of Google's AI products into mainstream search, highlighting the need to ensure a seamless user experience. He stressed that Google aims to get the implementation right, stating "there's no room to get that wrong".

When questioned about Bard and generative AI, Pichai acknowledged both the areas in which Google excels and the areas in which the company still lags behind. He described the current stage as a very early time for these technologies.

Pichai further expressed confidence in Google's preparedness for the competitive landscape, remarking, "I've built the company to be AI native for a long time. I feel better positioned for this than we were for the shift to mobile."

Meanwhile, there are reports that Apple is working on a more affordable version of the Vision Pro headset, expected to be unveiled by the end of 2025. To reduce the price, Apple may employ lower-quality screens, potentially incorporate a chip of lesser performance such as an iPhone-grade or older Mac chip, and feature a reduced number of cameras.