In conversation with Editor Ankur Sharma, The News Strike, Siddhant Aggarwal, Founder of Luxid Tech, said consumer expectations for AR devices in 2026 are shifting from futuristic features to everyday usability, with lighter hardware, simpler controls, device compatibility, affordability, battery efficiency, and privacy becoming increasingly important purchase factors. Aggarwal also highlighted the growing convergence of AI and AR, arguing that AI can provide the contextual intelligence behind AR’s visual layer, enabling users to access information, translation, navigation, and other assistance without repeatedly switching between applications. He believes this could move computing from command-based interactions toward more natural, intent-driven experiences.
- What are the biggest shifts you are seeing in consumer expectations from AR devices in 2026?
Consumers are no longer impressed by AR simply because it looks futuristic. They expect a device they can comfortably use every day. That means lighter glasses, simple controls, compatibility with existing phones and laptops, and clear value for work or entertainment. People do not necessarily want multiple cameras and complex features if these increase weight, price and battery consumption. They want a familiar experience with a very short learning curve. Privacy is also becoming a purchasing factor. In 2026, the winning AR device will not be the one with the longest specification sheet, but the one that fits most naturally into a person’s routine.
2. How is the convergence of AI and AR changing the way users interact with technology today?
AR provides the visual layer, while AI gives that layer context and intelligence. Together, they can move computing away from repeatedly opening applications and navigating menus. An AI agent can understand what the user is doing, retrieve relevant information and place it within their field of view. During a meeting, for example, it could display notes or translate a conversation. While travelling, it could provide contextual guidance without requiring constant phone use. The important change is from command-based computing to intent-based computing. Users should be able to express what they need through natural language, gestures or wearable controls, with technology responding in a more intuitive way.
3. Luxid Tech talks about a “screenless future.” What does that vision look like in practical terms for everyday users?
A screenless future does not mean that visual information disappears. It means people are no longer restricted by the physical size and location of a television, monitor or laptop screen. A traveller could watch a film on a private virtual display without carrying a television-sized device. A professional could create multiple virtual workspaces from a laptop while sitting in a small hotel room. Students could explore three-dimensional learning material instead of only viewing a flat diagram. The practical goal is to make a useful display available wherever the user needs it, while reducing dependence on multiple physical screens and the posture problems associated with constantly looking down.
4. Do you believe AR glasses can eventually replace laptops, tablets or even smartphones for certain use cases?
Yes, for certain use cases. But replacement will happen gradually. AR glasses can already become an alternative display for watching content, gaming, remote work and accessing several virtual screens in a limited physical space. As interaction improves through voice, AI, rings and other wearable controls, more tasks can move away from conventional devices. However, intensive typing, professional design and other precision-based work may continue to require keyboards or specialised hardware. The more realistic near-term future is that the phone or computer remains the processing engine while the glasses become the primary interface. Over time, users may carry their phones but need to take them out far less often.
5. Gaming has historically driven AR/VR adoption. What trends are you seeing in immersive entertainment today?
Immersive entertainment is moving beyond the isolated headset experience. Users increasingly want lighter devices, social interaction and content that can move across phones, computers, consoles and wearable displays. We are also seeing interest in spatial multiplayer games, immersive livestreams, virtual events and three-dimensional storytelling. The next opportunity is not limited to placing a player inside a completely artificial world. It is also about bringing digital characters, information and shared experiences into the user’s actual surroundings. Gaming will remain an important testing ground because it pushes graphics and interaction forward, but those developments will also shape education, live events, tourism, fitness and collaborative entertainment.
6. What are the biggest misconceptions consumers have about data security in AR wearables?
The biggest misconception is that every pair of AR glasses is continuously recording its surroundings. AR display glasses and camera-equipped smart glasses are not necessarily the same category. Security depends on the device architecture: what sensors it contains, where information is processed, whether data reaches the cloud and what permissions the software requires. With VueAR Glass, processing happens through the connected device, and Luxid does not collect or process users’ personal data. However, the industry must make privacy visible and understandable. Consumers should be able to identify when a camera or microphone is active, control permissions and know exactly what information is being stored or transmitted.
