A startup in China, led by former Apple engineer Wang Chaohao, has unveiled its AI smart glasses chip, causing a stir in the tech industry. Wang, who departed Apple’s extended reality division, heads GravityXR in China with the aim of providing components that could rival Apple’s premium devices.
The latest development from GravityXR is the Jizhi G-X100, touted as China’s first all-in-one mixed reality chip utilizing cutting-edge 5nm technology. This innovative chip is tailored to power lightweight AI glasses and headsets, positioning it as a potential competitor to Apple’s Vision Pro, a leading player in the high-end XR hardware market.
A key highlight of the G-X100 is its photon-to-photon latency of 9 milliseconds, surpassing the 12 milliseconds achieved by Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Lower latency translates to a more seamless and responsive virtual and augmented reality experience for users. GravityXR emphasizes that the new chip is versatile, suitable for various devices ranging from compact AI glasses to advanced XR headsets.
This hardware enables spatial computing, allowing digital devices to process and interact with the real world, seamlessly merging physical environments with virtual content. The high-speed performance and low latency of the Jizhi G-X100 align with the industry trend of bridging the gap between physical and digital perception in XR and AI wearables.
Wang Chaohao’s transition from Apple to establishing GravityXR in China represents a significant shift in the talent landscape. His background at Apple’s extended reality unit and Stanford University lends credibility to the venture. GravityXR aims to offer a local alternative to U.S. tech giants in a market focusing on technological self-sufficiency amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China in high-end tech sectors like AI chips.
The startup has garnered support from various backers, including HongShan (previously Sequoia Capital China), Gaorong Capital, Chinese contract electronics manufacturer Goertek, and video game developer miHoYo.
This development marks a notable advancement in the tech industry, with GravityXR poised to challenge established players and drive innovation in the XR and AI wearables market.