Evan Spiegel's Vision: The Next Decade of Snap and AR Glasses
AI and AR are both technologies that have long been said to be "just around the corner." However, Spiegel's way of speaking feels less like "future forecasting" and more like the realization that the foundations of daily life have begun to change. What he is looking at is not the improvement in smartphone or PC performance, but the change in the time and posture humans use to interact with computers. The act of sitting at a desk, staring at a screen, and continuously issuing commands via input devices will be significantly shortened as AI becomes the "executor." That is precisely why the next form of computing is shifting from the "palm" to the "field of view"—this premise is the background for why Snap positions Spectacles (Specs) as a "product that will define the next 10 to 20 years."
1. AI is changing the very "way we use computers"
Spiegel's argument is simple. AI will operate computers, and humans will become the supervisors. This is not about an increase in convenient automation, but a structural shift where the relationship with computers moves from "piloting" to "management." Users will observe the progress of tasks being executed by AI, check for errors, and correct the direction. In other words, much of what was previously "done by hand" will be delegated to AI task execution.
Why does this shift accelerate glasses? The answer is that the meaning of a workstation is changing. Current PCs are "places where you sit and operate," but if AI handles the practical work, there is no need for the user to be tethered to them. AI can carry out work while you are walking outside, moving around, or doing whatever you like. As a result, the "time spent in front of a desk" decreases, and the "time spent living in the world" increases. And the most natural form for bringing AI into that world is glasses that integrate with your field of view—that is the logic.
2. Why did Snap choose "glasses" instead of VR?
Spiegel is quite critical of VR. Wearing heavy, large headsets for long periods is not practical, and they are even "anti-social" in that they easily cut off relationships with others. What is important here is that the ideal Snap envisions is not "immersion," but an experience that overlays computing onto the real world. Instead of making the world invisible and taking you to another world, it adds only the necessary information or workspace while you continue to see the world. For that, glasses as transparent, lightweight "everyday tools" are essential.
2-1. A device that cannot create a "reason to wear it" will lose
The success or failure of hardware is not determined solely by technical prowess. It is all about whether there is a "reason for the user to go to the trouble of wearing it." Spiegel looks back at the past and admits that early attempts—such as "attaching a camera to glasses"—did not create an experience 10 times better than shooting with a smartphone. As long as the value remains small, the device will stop at being an "interesting gadget." Conversely, if there is no "immediate effect"—that the moment you put on the glasses, the world becomes even slightly better, more useful, or more comfortable—adoption will not happen.
2-2. Being "transparent" is a philosophy
The "see-through" quality that Snap insists on is not just a specification; it is close to a philosophy. Reality is the base, and digital is the supplement. That is why it is less tiring even for long periods and blends into daily life. The composition of "blocking out reality to go to another space," like VR, is not suitable for "long-term daily use," whether for work or play. AR glasses are the opposite; they embed computing in a way that coexists with the world. This is the basis for why Snap has bet long-term on "this form factor alone."
3. The essence of AR is "shared computing"
The future of AR that Spiegel talks aboutis not just about "information appearing in front of your eyes." Rather, he says the essence is that computing is shifting from "single-player" to "multi-player." We basically use PCs and smartphones alone. But with AR, multiple people can see, operate, and create in the same space and on the same subject simultaneously. Collaborative work that surrounds a whiteboard will be able to be realized digitally while remaining in a "real space."
3-1. The practical value of carrying "multiple monitors"
Surprisingly, the angle of "multitasking" comes up in the conversation. Smartphones are structurally weak at processing multiple tasks simultaneously. That is why desktops survive in the workplace, and we have increased efficiency by adding two or three monitors. AR glasses bring this environment with you when you go out. While on the move, you can deploy a huge virtual screen, line up multiple tasks, and switch between them with your gaze or gestures as needed. The value here is not in "looking futuristic," but in eliminating the inconveniences of current ways of working.
3-2. When the "field of view" becomes a workspace, the way we learn changes
Furthermore, AR shows its true worth in the field of practical work. Spiegel emphasizes "learning by doing." If AR overlays information and AI provides advice or procedures for "real actions"—such as workplace training, on-site tasks, and actual problem-solving—learning will shift from the classroom to the field. As a result, the education system itself will have to be updated. It is natural that an education system designed for the industrial society of 100 years ago would not fit the AI era, and the view is that AR can be a tool to bridge that gap.
4. Snap has a winning path precisely because it is a "middle-child company"
Spiegel calls Snap a "middle child." Its user base is huge, but it does not have the market dominance of Meta or Google. On the other hand, it is not as agile as a small company. This "middle" position is tough. Costs are high, but pricing power is weak, competitors are giant corporations, and startups are chasing from below.
4-1. "Efficiency x Speed" becomes the condition for survival
This position forces thorough efficiency and speed. If the flow of information slows down, you lose the competition. What Spiegel dislikes is a culture of "meetings for the sake of meetings" or continuously preparing documents to move up the chain. He walks the floor, asks to see things immediately, and moves forward by grasping only the numbers, reactions, and blockers. This style of decision-making itself acts as a counter to the bureaucracy of giant corporations.
4-2. A "Too Small Design Organization" is a Weapon
The design team is particularly symbolic. Snap's core design team consists of about 9 to 12 people; it is flat, cycles through a large number of ideas in a short time, and reviews them while laughing. The underlying belief is that as the number of people increases, coordination costs and hierarchy grow, killing creativity. That is why they judge hiring based "only on portfolios," narrowing it down to the point where they hire one person out of every 1,000 they see. This is not so much an "aesthetic" as it is a management decision that in a highly uncertain field like AR, the generative power of a small, elite group determines victory or defeat.
5. The Biggest Risk is Not "Technology" but "Emotion"
Finally, what Spiegel emphasizes most is social anxiety toward AI. In public opinion polls, many people fear losing their jobs and worry about the impact on society. Technology accelerates, but if social acceptance does not keep pace, backlash will occur. Major turning points like railroads, semiconductors, and the internet shake not only technology but also politics and society. Therefore, his conclusion is that today's tech leaders are required to have stronger accountability and a "listening attitude."
Conclusion: What Snap is Aiming for is the "Next Standard After the Screen"
Snap's AR strategy is not just a competition for new devices. AI will perform tasks, and humans will become supervisors. Workspaces will move from desks to fields of view, and computing will become shared. Learning will shift from classrooms to the field. And for society to accept these changes, it will be necessary to update not only technology but also emotions and institutions. Spectacles (Specs) are aiming to be the "next standard" that bundles all of that together.