Microsoft’s Second HoloLens Has Built-In AI Co-processor to Make Mixed-Reality Smarter

This week at Hawaii’s annual Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference (CVPR), Microsoft announced that its upcoming second generation HoloLens will incorporate an AI co-processing unit to enable more features and services. The HoloLens is described as the world’s first “fully self-contained holographic computer,” to display augmented and virtual reality, or, “mixed-reality content,” to the user. The AI co-processor will allow the device to perform more functions without relying on the cloud, with faster processing times and increased mobility. Speaking of the upcoming device, CEO Satya Nadella said, “this is the kind of thinking you need if you’re going to develop mixed reality devices that are themselves intelligent. Mixed reality and artificial intelligence represent the future of computing, and we’re excited to be advancing this frontier.” Devices such as HoloLens hold great promise for assisting users with visual impairments with its use of mixed reality overlays and artificial intelligence. For example, HoloLens could assist users with vision loss to navigate their homes or workplaces more safely and efficiently. Source: Microsoft Research Blog.