AI Glasses Are the Next Design Leap as Apple Backs Spatial Computing

The global spatial computing market is projected to grow from $168.6 billion in 2025 to $897.5 billion by 2035, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of more than 18% according to Future Market Insights.

Much of that growth will be driven not by VR or AR headsets, but by AI-powered wearables like smart glasses.

All this to say, spatial computing is no longer limited to virtual headsets and gaming demos.

Soon enough, it will become part of daily life. 

Apple’s recent decision to pause its Vision Pro headset overhaul to focus on AI-driven eyewear is a clear indication of this industry-wide pivot. 

While the $3,499 device initially symbolized the future of immersive computing, the company’s resources are now being redirected toward lightweight smart glasses that integrate AI and state-of-the-art voice interaction capabilities.

Experts at design agency ANML say it could be the turning point for creative and tech industries. 

“We’re entering an age where digital experiences won’t just be seen on screens, because they’ll live in our periphery,” said Douglas Hughmanick, Founder and Head of Creative at ANML.

“Designing for that means moving away from complex 3D scenes and toward interfaces that feel almost invisible.”

From Immersion to Ambient Interaction

Industry data supports that trend. 

Statista estimates the global AR hardware market at about $6.3 billion in 2024, with projections rising to roughly $8.5 billion by 2025.

More shockingly, a Grand View Research report forecasts that AR technology could exceed $599 billion by the early 2030s. 

This is enough reason for designers to reevaluate their spatial user interface (UI) principles. 

However, instead of building fully immersive environments, ANML argues that the future lies in ambient interaction. 

Think subtle, gaze-based, and AI-informed experiences that make digital content feel native to real-world settings.

“Good spatial design won’t compete for attention,” Hughmanick explained. 

“It will anticipate intent. Whether you’re walking, driving, or collaborating, the interface should be context-aware and not command-heavy.”

When this unprecedented shift in design principles occurs, it will redefine how agencies, developers, and brands think about experience design.

ANML notes that many of today’s spatial tools are still optimized for headsets like Meta’s Quest or Apple’s Vision Pro. 

But as AI wearables become smaller and more accessible, designers will need to prioritize adaptability across form factors.

Designing for a Wearable-First World

Apple’s upcoming smart glasses (codenamed N50 and N51) are expected to rely heavily on AI, voice, and environmental awareness rather than visual displays, according to Bloomberg, as reported by Reuters. 

ANML believes this will push agencies to focus on multi-sensory design, where sound, haptic cues, and even micro-gestures drive interaction.

“The design challenge will no longer be about how something looks in 3D space. It’ll be about how it feels to move through it.” 

This gives enough reason for brands and creative agencies to act upon the evolution, so as not to risk lagging behind the innovation.

To do this, they must build cross-disciplinary teams that combine spatial computing, motion design, and behavioral psychology to create intuitive experiences.

“How does the user know they’ve completed an action without seeing it? Those are the new design questions,” Hughmanick added.

A New Canvas for Agencies

Sales momentum for AI wearables is accelerating rapidly.

According to a June 2025 report, the global smart-glasses market surged 110% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, largely driven by strong demand for Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Of that number, AI smart glasses accounted for 78% of all shipments in the first half of 2025. This is up from 46% in the first half of 2024 and 66% in the second half of 2024.

And with the product’s functional uses, it’s gearing up to be more than just a fad.

As spatial computing matures, the creative industry is being asked to design for environments that don’t exist yet. 

Agencies like ANML, which specialize in translating real-world interaction into digital behavior, see this as an opportunity to lead.

“Brands that start experimenting with spatial UI today will have a major head start when AI wearables hit the mainstream,” its CEO shared.

What Marketers Should Take Away

Because tech is moving past experimentation and into mainstream adoption, Spatial UI is no longer a distant concept.

It’s fast becoming a new design discipline. 

This means partnering early with agencies fluent in AI, gesture, and environment-aware experiences. 

As hardware becomes more discreet and more human, the most successful brands will be the ones whose interfaces are barely noticed. 

Because they work naturally, everywhere.