AWE Asia 2026 wrapped up in Singapore this week, bringing together the global extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) community for three days of insightful discussions and demonstrations. The event underscored the growing importance of XR as foundational infrastructure for AI systems, which are increasingly moving beyond screens into real-world environments. AWE co-founder Ori Inbar emphasised, “There is no AI without XR,” setting the tone for the conference.
The event featured keynotes and sessions exploring the practical applications of AI and XR. Atley Loughridge from Snap Inc highlighted the transition of Snap’s augmented reality (AR) stack from experimentation to global production, showcasing its deployment across mobile, web, and wearables. Alvin W Graylin discussed the importance of trust and responsibility in AI-driven XR systems, whilst Mark Billinghurst introduced “Empathic XR,” which uses physiological sensing and AI to enhance applications in healthcare and training.
A developer panel led by Steven Xu of Snap Inc focused on building spatial experiences using Lens Studio, whilst Matt Sanders from Meta explored the potential of wearable AI to foster independence. Beng Hui Ong from Agora presented a case study on AI in toys, illustrating the synergy between spatial technologies and AI.
The expo floor featured live demonstrations, including Snap’s Spectacles, and the debut AWE Asia Startup Pitch. The Auggie Awards recognised standout contributions, with Braillic named Startup to Watch and Snap winning Best in Show. The event concluded with a call for stronger governance in AI, emphasising its alignment with human wellbeing.
