If we think about last decades of innovations in computing, the stunning progress relates to faster processors, bigger datasets, stronger algorithms and a better hardware/software in general; one thing remained incredibly static during this whole period: the way we interact with those powerful machines remained impressively similar. From punch cards to keyboards, from mice to touchscreen, even if the tech changed the paradigm remained the same: humans input a command, machines output a response and the dialogue stops there; the boundary between thought and action remains rigid, lengthening the interaction time and efficiency of the transaction. In my opinion the convergence of AI and AR has the potential to disrupt this model completely.
AR alone provides a new way for interaction: it overlays digital information on the physical world turning empty space into an interface. Anyway, AR alone, risks being just another screen, only closer to our eyes. At the same time AI alone gives machines abilities to learn and predict, but its power remains confined in the machines and in order to extract it inefficiencies arise.
In their convergence revolution can happen.
Imagine a device where AI and AR works together, information is not just displayed,but it’s understood and adapted to the user in real time. With AR, AI can escape from the bare metal and enter in our living environment, transforming the transactional dialogue limited in speed, into an immersive cognitive system, where the machine does not just wait for the input: it perceives, it processes and it acts together with us, no longer waiting for our commands. Imagine having your agenda, your acquaintances, the needed wikipedia information or the best thing to say, everything in the blink of an eye. This is a new challenge in which the aim is to make interaction become instinctive, shaped by gestures, gaze and perhaps even intentions. For the first time technology has the capability to align itself with the natural rhythm of human cognition. In this new battlefield, the focus will be more and more on the portability and the smoothness of interaction: glasses, lenses or other interfaces should be as light, comfortable and easy-to-use as possible
In my view, this is more than just a technical revolution, it is a philosophical one. Machines no longer aim to be a separate assistant able to help you on call, but to become extensions of perception itself. AI and AR together do not create just a new device, but a new dimension of experience.
This awareness could change the interpretation of users’ needs, competitive dynamics and could introduce a whole new era where humans and machines can work together towards a common objective.
References:
- Chenna, R. (2023). Augmented Reality and AI: Enhancing Human-Computer Interaction. SSRN Electronic Journal.
- Li, M., Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., & Liu, H. (2025). Augmenting Human Cognition through Everyday AR. arXiv preprint.
- GeeksforGeeks (2023). AR and AI: The Role of AI in Augmented Reality. Available at: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/artificial-intelligence/ar-and-ai-the-role-of-ai-in-augmented-reality/
