Today, our world is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration in the pace of technological innovation, and at the heart of this acceleration, artificial intelligence stands on the cusp of an upcoming qualitative leap, which is expected to redefine its possibilities and applications. But what is remarkable this time is that this anticipated quantum leap will not only be built on the development of algorithms and complex machine learning models, but will be strongly pushed by parallel and fundamental developments in the hardware world.
As the two worlds are rapidly merging: the virtual digital world inhabited by algorithms and data, and the physical real world in which we live, advanced technologies such as spatial computing, extended reality (XR), and wearable devices powered by artificial intelligence promise a new era and a completely different computing model that will redefine human interaction with machines.
The integration of artificial intelligence into devices is no longer just a distant future forecast; it has become a reality at the moment, and is confirmed by strategic moves implemented by the most important companies in the field.for example, recent trademark applications submitted by OpenAI reveal its interest in products that go beyond software to include a wide range of devices, such as: advanced humanoid robots, augmented reality and virtual reality glasses, in addition to smart personal devices such as smart watches and smart jewelry. Meta's investment in smart glasses, which rely on artificial intelligence, also strongly confirms this trend.
Bypass the screens.. The transition of artificial intelligence to the physical world:
This radical development is not limited to simply expanding the reach of artificial intelligence applications to new segments of users, but it is related to a fundamental shift in the nature of our interaction with artificial intelligence, as it moves from being just a powerful computer tool trapped inside computer screens and phones that require us to enter and receive information through traditional interfaces, to interacting with it as an embodied entity, as a partner capable of perceiving, understanding and interacting directly, naturally and continuously with the physical world surrounding us instantaneously.
To achieve this embodiment and this direct interaction is not enough, just the presence of powerful artificial intelligence, trained on huge amounts of data, it requires a completely new infrastructure, including specialized and innovative devices capable of perceiving the complex and changing environment and interpreting it in real-time with unprecedented accuracy.
This means the need for an unprecedented variety of advanced sensors, as well as revolutionary interactive interfaces that go beyond the physical and procedural limitations of traditional keyboards and touchscreens, to rely more on natural gestures, tracking eye movement and user glances, advanced and context-sensitive voice interaction, and even interaction via Haptic feedback.
This shift towards embodied artificial intelligence opens the door to a whole new category of applications and experiences, which until recently were considered part of science fiction stories, but how fast, how transformative Fusion will happen, and how this shift will reshape the future of interaction between humans and machines
Spatial computing is an emerging computing model that revolves around understanding and interacting intelligently with the three dimensions surrounding us. spatial computing achieves this goal by combining advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, computer vision to interpret visual scenes in real time and a variety of advanced sensing technologies to collect accurate environmental data, in order to create natural and seamless interactive interfaces connecting two worlds: the real world, in which we move and live, on the one hand, and the virtual digital world, which contains information and applications on the other hand.
Unlike traditional computing models, which require people to adapt to the limits and possibilities of stationary or mobile devices and their interfaces, such as monitors and keyboards, spatial computing allows machines to understand human environments and their intentions through spatial awareness.
Therefore, controlling the design and development of this new interactive interface to be intuitive and easy to use is important, as devices that are intrinsically integrated with artificial intelligence become an essential part of our daily lives, it is the way people will interact with these embodied and distributed intelligent systems that will ultimately determine how useful these systems are in various aspects of our lives.
It will also be the companies that are leading the efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into devices in an innovative and effective way that will set the new standards for e-commerce, personal and professional communication, and people's daily interaction with technology in the coming decades.
This is precisely where the strategic importance of extended reality technologies and wearable devices lies, as artificial intelligence needs what is known as spatial intelligence, which is the awareness and deep understanding of the surrounding physical space, to achieve its maximum potential.
High-end augmented reality glasses, intelligent AI-powered virtual reality glasses, and smart rings or watches with advanced AI sensing capabilities allow natural human gestures, precise body movements, and the physical characteristics of our surroundings to be interpreted in a smoother and more intuitive way.
Christie Woolsey, global head of extended reality and spatial computing at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), summed up this shift by saying: “The rapid development of artificial intelligence has prompted us to look for a new device with which we can transfer AI-based collaboration from the screen to direct interaction with the world. Extended reality devices, which do not require the use of hands, provide this possibility. In addition, artificial intelligence constantly needs huge amounts of data, and the cameras, location sensors, and voice inputs available in extended reality devices can effectively meet this growing need,” he said.
This radical shift in devices is making artificial intelligence more accessible and more integrated into our daily lives, no longer just a tool that we use via screens, but an intelligent companion that interacts with us in the real world.
The rise of artificial intelligence agents:
During his speech at CES 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stressed that the shift from generative artificial intelligence to the concept of artificial intelligence agents marks a crucial turning point towards the emergence of what is known as embodied artificial intelligence.
AI agents – intelligent systems capable of acting autonomously and making real–time decisions based on their perception of the environment-will rely heavily on advanced spatial devices to function effectively.
Whether these agents are embedded in sophisticated smart glasses, embodied in the form of sophisticated humanoid robots, or are part of intelligent wearable devices, they will monitor the surrounding environment,
As artificial intelligence exits the cloud computing environment and enters our physical surroundings, its shape will be determined based on how it is integrated into our environments, and this new phase requires more than just advanced algorithms; it needs devices that can sense, process data, and respond to ambient changes, and there are three main drivers driving this growth in artificial intelligence devices, namely:
1. real-world data and large-scale artificial intelligence training:
The effectiveness of artificial intelligence depends on the quality of the data from which it learns, and AI systems in the future will need various spatial data that include: information about spatial depth, movement of objects, object recognition, and detailed mapping of surrounding environments.
Wearables, augmented reality devices, and robots are essential tools for real-time data collection, and unlike traditional data streams that rely on text and still images, these devices allow artificial intelligence to learn from direct and dynamic interaction with the world around it, significantly improving how it responds to changing real-world contexts and unexpected conditions that characterize the real world.
2-bypassing screens with interfaces based on artificial intelligence:
The next computing platform represents a new era of immersive, multimedia interaction, based mainly on artificial intelligence, and we are moving rapidly towards bypassing the limitations of traditional screens such as smartphones and tablets, and the trend towards interfaces that look like natural extensions of our senses and cognitive abilities.
Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses are an early example of this transformation, as users can use them to ask questions directly to their built-in AI assistant, record important moments from their lives, and receive intelligent contextual support, all without having to look at a separate screen.
OpenAI's growing interest in the development of augmented reality glasses also hints at a promising future in which artificial intelligence assistants will not be confined to applications, but will be present on our faces, in our ears, and on our wrists. These wearable devices will make artificial intelligence more present in our surroundings, more user-friendly, always present to help us, and seamlessly integrated into both our work and personal lives.
3-The Rise of Artificial Intelligence Agents:
Artificial intelligence is witnessing a transformation from being an ineffective tool to a cooperative and effective partner through the emergence of artificial intelligence agents, these digital assistants who can independently accomplish complex tasks, make decisions, and actively participate based on what they see and feel in the surrounding environment.
For example, smart rings can capture precise gestures and provide tactile feedback for immersive interaction, artificial intelligence glasses may provide real-time information overlays that include navigational directions, instant language translations, or support needed to complete various tasks, and smart watches can monitor the user's biometrics and make proactive health recommendations based on the analysis of this data.