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Criticism of Snap’s Augmented Reality Glasses by Former Employee

Former Employee Speaks Out

One of Snap’s (SNAP) former employees has publicly criticized its augmented reality (AR) glasses, declaring them "bad." Sterling Crispin, an engineer who contributed to the design of earlier versions of these glasses, expressed his negative sentiments in a recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Crispin reflects on his experience at Snap, stating, “I worked on these for about a year at Snap, and I have a million negative things to say about the experience and the device. However, I believe the product speaks for itself and is obviously bad.” His comments underline significant concerns regarding the AR Spectacles, which have faced challenges in the competitive tech landscape.

Caution Over NDA Constraints

In his post, Crispin refrained from delving into specific details surrounding his criticisms, citing concerns over potentially breaching a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). He mentioned, “I don’t want to get into the specifics because I might inadvertently break an NDA and would probably hurt some people’s feelings who worked on it, but it’s really a disaster.” This cautious approach highlights the complexities and sensitivities surrounding product criticism in the tech industry, particularly when employees are bound by legal agreements.

Employment Background

Crispin’s tenure at Snap came to an end in 2022, as he announced via LinkedIn that he had been laid off. His experience within the company and subsequent critique of the AR glasses brings to light the internal challenges faced by tech firms engaging in pioneering but often risky product development.

Snap’s Market Position Amid Industry Struggles

Snap’s newest venture into augmented reality with its latest AR Spectacles marks an attempt to gain traction in a market that has been notably challenging. Major competitors like Meta (META) have incurred significant financial losses—reportedly nearly $50 billion over the past four years on their Reality Labs division dedicated to AR and VR technologies. Additionally, Apple’s (AAPL) highly priced Vision Pro headsets have underwhelmed both consumers and investors, indicating broader struggles within the sector. Previous attempts by tech giants, including Google Glass (GOOG) and Microsoft’s HoloLens (MSFT), have also not succeeded as anticipated, compounding the difficulties faced by Snap and its contemporaries.

Continuous Efforts from Tech Giants

Despite the evident challenges, companies like Meta, Apple, and Snap continue to pour resources and innovation into the development of augmented and virtual reality solutions. Meta has forged an expanded partnership with EssilorLuxottica (Ray-Ban’s parent company) to create AI-enabled Ray-Ban smart glasses. Apple has broadened the availability of its Vision Pro sales internationally and heavily promoted it during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Furthermore, reports suggest that Google, Qualcomm (QCOM), and Samsung (005930.KS) are also actively pursuing advancements in smart glasses technology.

Snap’s Historical Context in the AR Space

Snap is not a newcomer to the augmented reality landscape; the company first introduced its Spectacles in 2016, incorporating augmented reality features in 2021, albeit limited to a select group of about 200 creators. The fifth generation of Spectacles was launched recently, this time targeting a more extensive audience and marketed as an AR product. This iteration is offered through the company’s developer kit at a monthly subscription cost of $99.

Company Messaging and Public Reception

In a statement regarding its latest product, Snap emphasized that “Spectacles are the result of a decade of research and development to introduce hardware that breaks the bounds of screens and brings people together in the real world.” Initial feedback about the new glasses appears to be predominantly positive. Publications like MIT Tech Review commented that the Spectacles “could finally deliver on the promises devices like Magic Leap, or HoloLens, or even Google Glass, made many years ago.” Additionally, CNET suggested that Snap is gaining an edge in the market before its competitors, while The Verge noted that Snap is making strides toward creating “compelling AR.”

Financial Context and Future Outlook

The positive reviews of Snap’s latest glasses could be indicative of a potential turnaround for the social media platform, especially following a difficult financial period. Snap’s stock has experienced a significant decline of nearly 37% over the past three months, with its current trading price around $10, a stark contrast to its previous highs in the $70 range in 2021. It has been reported that Snap has yet to achieve profitability in the decade since its inception. Their shares dipped by 0.55% in trading on the following Friday.

Despite these challenges, Snap’s CEO remains optimistic about the company’s trajectory. Notably, it was revealed that the company’s losses decreased by 34% during the second quarter ending August 1 compared to the previous year. Revenue saw a year-over-year growth of 16%, reaching $1.2 billion, although it still fell short of Wall Street’s forecasts. The recent launch of a new feature named “Simple Snapchat” aligns with Snap’s efforts to draw in more users and enhance monetization capabilities.

The Role of AI legalese decoder

In situations like this, where current or former employees may be entangled in discussions about product assessments with potential legal ramifications, tools such as the AI legalese decoder can prove invaluable. This software is designed to simplify complex legal jargon, making it easier for individuals to comprehend their contractual obligations and rights. For former employees like Crispin, it can clarify any uncertainties regarding NDAs or other agreements, empowering them to express their opinions while remaining compliant with legal standards. As the dialogue around tech products evolves, having access to resources that demystify legal language can help navigate these discussions more effectively.

Laura Bratton is a reporter for Yahoo Finance.

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