12 Most Noteworthy Augmented Reality Trends in 2023

Over the years, Augmented Reality (AR) has found a significant place in numerous industries. The advent of Industry 4.0 and the repercussions of COVID-19 gave AR a phenomenal boost, and the use cases expanded to many more industries. As we speak, AR-powered products solutions help industrial enterprises solve some of their toughest business challenges.??

This article will discuss the top 10 augmented reality trends, how they’ll take shape in 2023 and how your business can make the most out of them.?

Trend #1: Blend of Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence?

While AR and AI are entirely different technologies, they complement each other. Fast and accurate AI models are considered to be the engines powering AR functionalities. This way, you get a better understanding of what you see. AR becomes more powerful when it can make sense of data from the environment, and AI helps simplify these processes while making them more accurate.?

AI is very much capable of taking complex decisions, so it can utilize the simulations from archives to figure out the best strategy in AR military system. A combination of AI and AR is also beneficial in training pilots. As there are more advancements in the field, the technologies will also be used to identify and label threats.??

Trend #2: A dive into the Metaverse?

Dismantling the partitions between the virtual and real worlds is one of the aims of metaverse technologies. Due to the ability of augmented reality to show virtual items that are integrated into our real world, both consumers and companies can benefit from this technology. So, “What is the future of AR?” Metaverse is the future of augmented reality.?

Metaverse technologies work toward removing the barriers between the real and virtual worlds. It is safe to say that metaverse is the future of AR. 2023 will not be specifically about the metaverse, it would instead be focused on the technologies that are enabling metaverse (AI, AR, IoT, VR).?

Trend #3: XR to see a bloom as AR and VR combine?

It’s no longer about the difference between AR and VR; now it’s more about what AR and VR can do together. And 2023 holds excellent potential for XR (AR and VR) as market leaders focus on the technologies that make up the metaverse.?

As mixed reality devices combine AR and VR experiences, the opportunities and possibilities have increased for developing apps and software that can make the best of it. It also opens a door for the industry to see both technologies complement each other.?

Trend #4: Powerful mobile AR?

Smartphones can be considered the most affordable devices that help people access AR. Faster chips, advanced camera systems and better connectivity make smartphones one of the most promising devices for AR. Prominent players in the industry like Samsung have already introduced foldable mobile devices, leading to even more immersive experiences for users.?

Geospatial API for ARcore?

The AR experiences in the past were defined by the user and the locations set by the user. With Geospatial API, developers can set precise coordinates for AR content. For this, it uses Google Street View images from the surroundings. This means you no longer have to scan the space.?

?ARKit 6 Enhancements?

With the ARKit 6 upgrades, users can record 4K video with more realistic depth API. Moreover, there are improvements in the motion capture feature so motion capture data from a person’s movements and applied to a 3D model. Now, it also lets virtual objects move around people.?

Trend #5: AR Glasses advancements?

AR glasses have been continuously becoming more user-friendly with improved functionalities. An example is the evolution of Apple’s LiDAR scanner. Last year, Mojo Vision Labs demonstrated AR smart contact lenses that work through eye tracking to enable the AR experience. In CES 2023, there was a demonstration of electrochromic dimming by Meta Materials and Ant Reality. It has the potential to enable AR optical-see-through devices that can function equally well no matter the amount of light. Another plus side is the option to switch between AR and VR content.????

The kind of development we are seeing in the AR glasses space, in the coming years, we might as well be introduced to all day AR smart glass that will have the capability to replace our smartphones.?

Trend #6: Amplification in AR capabilities through Edge Computing??

Edge computing radically amplifies the capabilities – power and quality – of AR and VR by not requiring the devices to send the data off the device. This serves as the base for spatial computing applications, which would need a more realistic and precise presentation of user surrounding, like a digital twin.?

?With edge computing in growth mode, it will also accelerate the adoption of AR devices. With security and sustainability on the plate, you can expect more mobile AR content across industries.?

Trend #7: WebAR?

The most significant advantage of WebAR is the accessibility it offers, but it comes with limited functionalities compared to mobile AR. However, considering the accessibility and recent developments, the potential of WebAR cannot be undermined. So far, WebAR has been used to add filters on the face, change hair colour, background replacement, etc. With the big players in the market, we can expect the adoption of more functionalities. Also, in 2023, the limelight will be on WebXR, powered by mixed reality devices.?

Trend #8: Generative AI

With AI well positioned for 2023, it is expected to be used in the generation of AR/VR content as well. Generative AI will play a significant role in creating new ideas and expediting content creation. To some extent, it has already been used to create 3D assets that make spatial experiences quite immersive.?

NVIDIA and OpenAI have demonstrated how generative AI can be utilized for a 3D model from text. The creation of AR/VR content will accelerate with the democratization of 3D asset production.???

Trend #9: Cross-platform device development?

With the rise in the accessibility and adoption of MR devices, there is an opportunity for developers to develop more content which can be accessed through multiple platforms like smartphones, PCs, tablets, etc. This will also boost the need for development tools to deliver such outcomes.?

Trend #10: Disruption in buyer experience in retail?

Many brands, especially in fashion and beauty, use AR to provide a better buying experience. Not just in e-commerce, even brick-and-mortar retailers provide digital experiences to buyers through AR. By providing a virtual try-on feature, there has been a dramatic increase in the conversion rate and a reduction in returns. With body tracking features, NFC and QR embedded in their clothes, buyers can transform what they’re wearing into several designs they would like to try.??

There are retailers who use AR to change their space to an experiential hub. Such a setting is helping retailers survive in the e-commerce era by augmenting the in-store experience they provide to buyers.?

Trend #11: Digital Twin for enterprise metaverse?

As McKinsey quotes, the enterprise metaverse is a digital and immersive environment replicating and connecting different aspects of an organization to optimize experience and decision-making. Combining a digital twin with AR/VR creates an immersive environment that makes the simulation experience more physical, allowing better interaction with virtual objects and people.?

Trend #12: Collaboration through MR?

AR-powered head-worn wearables are already transforming how the industrial workforce performs their daily operations. Upskilling the workforce with hands-free information increases productivity, and efficiency, provide better collaboration opportunities and changes their work surrounding.??

?With the increasing demand for such software and hardware at work, especially in industrial settings, we might expect AR and MR-supported hardware to be available at more affordable prices.??

?AR has proven to be a superior technology addressing numerous industrial challenges and increasing the workforce's productivity. At a CAGR of 48.6%, the AR market is projected to grow from USD 6.12 billion in 2021 to USD 97.76 billion in 2028. We expect a steady rise in the adoption of AR and an increase in the use cases for industries.?