This week, following its internal experimental deployment of AR smart glasses for delivery drivers, Amazon, via its Alexa Fund, helped to provide a total of $36.5 million to Helsinki-based AR smart glasses developers IXI-in collaboration with other investors.
Following an operational stealth period, the move helps IXI create its first device. Plural led the Series A funding round, with other contributors to the IXI Series A funding round including Tesi, byFounders, Heartcore, Eurazeo, FOV Ventures, Tiny Supercomputer, and previous investors to the start-up (Maki.vc, First Fellow, firstminutecapital, John Lindfors, Illusian, and the Bragiel Brothers).
Sten Tamkivi, a Partner at Plural, added:
Niko, Ville and the team’s rare European hardware expertise puts them at the forefront of advanced optics and eye-tracking developments. They’re creating beautiful, literally invisible technology that pioneers a new approach to vision which will finally improve human eyesight once and for all. By backing IXI, we’re not just investing in a company, but in a future where technology revolutionises how we see the world.
Amazon Dives Deep into AR
The timing comes as Amazon explores AR smart glasses to help its delivery drivers, and while Niko Eiden, CEO, noted how the smart glasses market is "a really hard space to be in because there is no market, and the volumes are not there," having a giant-backer like Amazon proactvily experimenting with the technology may provide fuel for the firm to grow-just as smart glasses boom.
Last year, Amazon announced plans to deploy its new custom smart glasses for delivery drivers. These glasses will utilise augmented reality visualisations to assist drivers with their routes, particularly on-foot navigation to customer delivery points.
Internally codenamed “Amelia,” the smart glasses feature a small AR display, an outward-facing camera to confirm delivered packages, Alexa voice commands, and an integrated AI chatbot.
According to reports, Amazon's smart glasses will provide AR turn-by-turn navigation visualisations, helping delivery workers walk towards buildings and identifying obstacles to save time during deliveries.
