Retail just got a $76 billion reason to lean into XR. A new wave of smart mirrors, AI assistants, and immersive commerce tools is rewriting the buyer journey – and this time it’s about bottom-line value, not showroom gimmicks.
Meanwhile, Meta’s research labs are reaching sci-fi territory: building headsets that can pass a visual Turing test. The race is on to make virtual indistinguishable from real – and it’s not just for gamers.
But don’t buy the hype wholesale. As 2026 emerges as a critical year, we’re also asking: Is XR ready for prime time – or just another product cycle away? Get the full rundown, challenges and all, below.
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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Retail’s $76B Upgrade
Retail is investing $76 billion into XR, AI, and other immersive tech by 2030. From virtual try-ons to intelligent store layouts, this isn’t just about tech for tech’s sake – it’s a race to create smarter, more profitable, and more engaging customer experiences.
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Next-Level VR: Meta’s Research Teams Target ‘Visual Turing Test’ with New Headsets
Meta is working on VR realism so convincing it fools the human eye. Could this be the leap that makes VR indispensable for training, collaboration, and commerce?
The XR Inflection Point: Why 2026 Will Finally Deliver on AR’s Long-Awaited Promise
After years of hype, industry insiders say AR’s tipping point is just three years away – driven by hardware breakthroughs and enterprise adoption.
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Interviews and Insights
Why Smart Glasses Won’t be Your Go-To Device (Yet)
“Everyone who has glasses is pretty quickly going to upgrade to smart glasses over the next decade… and a lot of other people who aren’t wearing glasses today are going to end up wearing them, too.” – Mark Zuckerberg
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