Samsung, Google Join Forces on New Android XR Platform

Seoul, South Korea—Samsung Electronics and Google announced a partnership on Friday to develop a new Android-based extended reality (XR) platform and Samsung's first XR headset, codenamed "Project Moohan. "

The collaboration will leverage Samsung's mobile technology expertise alongside Google's software capabilities to create a platform that merges physical and digital worlds through extended reality technology.

Samsung's Project Moohan, named after the Korean word for infinity, will feature state-of-the-art displays and Passthrough capabilities designed to work seamlessly with Google Maps, YouTube, and other Google applications. 

The new platform will integrate Google's Gemini AI model to enable conversational user interfaces and contextual understanding of the surrounding environment, moving beyond traditional gesture or controller-based inputs.

The companies are working with Qualcomm and third-party developers to build a content ecosystem that incorporates both Samsung's Galaxy ecosystem and Google's suite of applications. The platform will be available for both headsets and glasses.

Won-Joon Choi, EVP and Head of R&D at Samsung's Mobile eXperience Business said XR has evolved from a distant promise to a tangible reality with the potential to unlock new ways of interacting with the world.

Google's President of Android Ecosystem, Sameer Samat, pointed to breakthroughs in multimodal AI as enabling more natural and intuitive ways to use technology in everyday life.

According to Samsung, the headset will feature lightweight, ergonomically optimized hardware designed for extended, c, comfortable use. 

Users can explore locations through Google Maps, watch sports matches on YouTube, and plan trips using Gemini's AI assistance.

Neither company disclosed specific launch dates, pricing details, or technical specifications for Project Moohan or the broader XR platform.