29 Oct 2024 | AWE Team
AWE EU 2024 - Day 1: Highlights And What Not To Miss On The Second Day
AWE EU 2024

The European XR community has arrived in Vienna for AWE EU 2024, kicking off Europe’s #1 event in Augmented and Virtual Reality with an incredible start! As you gather in Vienna for two days of XR talks, panels, and exhibitions, Day 1 has already brought inspiring innovations and major announcements to the stage.

Here’s a look at the highlights of the day—and a glimpse of what’s still to come on Day 2!

Opening Keynote: Is 2024 A Breakthrough Year For XR

The day began with an inspiring opening keynote from AWE co-founder Ori Inbar, who took to the stage to share the current state of the XR industry, emphasizing how immersive technologies continue to evolve and transform various sectors.

In the quest to get ahead in the industry, there have been several new devices hitting the market in recent years. Today, things are anything but a one horse race, with leaders across the AR and VR industry all vying for position in a market that is now worth $25 billion.

In fact, this jostling for position from key industry players was perfectly captured during a special segment of the keynote:

“Apple rockets ahead with the Vision Pro, redefining mixed reality, but Meta is quick to respond with the Quest 3 and affordable Quest 3S, along with a prototype of their Orion AR glasses. Meanwhile, Sony, HTC, Pico, and Samsung are all making strategic moves, positioning themselves in the XR race.”

This vibrant, race-announcer style frames the fast-paced innovation and rivalry in the industry. Watch the recording of the opening keynote here:

Meta Keynote: A Closer, More Accessible Future

Amone Gbedemah, Head of EMEA Commercial Sales at Reality Labs Meta, took the stage right after Ori Inbar and showcased the company’s vision for immersive tech through innovations in the Metaverse and AI. Meta’s Quest 3 headset has redefined accessibility with its affordability and high quality, supporting applications from flight safety training to education. The Quest 3S enhances this with advanced hand-tracking and thousands of apps, paving the way for more immersive enterprise solutions.

On the AI front, Meta’s Llama language model and MetaAI assistant are transforming interaction and task automation, aiming to make AI engagement more natural. Meta also unveiled its newest wearable innovations, including Meta Ray-Bans, and teased Orion AR glasses, promising to elevate smart eyewear.

With the upcoming Quest for Business and Quest for Education programs launching in 2025, and a rapidly growing app ecosystem, Meta is committed to expanding the reach and impact of immersive technology.

Watch the full talk on our YouTube Channel.

Enterprise VIP Program: Exclusive Insights for XR in Business

Today’s Enterprise VIP Program at AWE EU 2024 launched with exclusive expo tours focused on Automotive & Aerospace, and Pharmaceutical & Healthcare industries, providing key business leaders with direct access to enterprise-focused exhibitors showcasing the latest XR innovations in these sectors.

These tours were followed later in the morning by roundtable discussions that provided enterprise attendees with the opportunity to discuss some of the challenges they are facing across their organizations, and learn from peers on how these challenges are being solved using technologies like XR and AI.

Roundtable sessions covered topics such as Solving Real Business Problems and Developing an XR Business Case led by Mark Sage, and The Future of Fashion & Beauty with Web3 and Social Gaming featuring Dr. Giovanna Casimiro. Covering both days of this year’s event, AWE’s Enterprise VIP program is specifically aimed at helping enterprise organizations accelerate their XR adoption by arming industry leaders with the insights needed to kickstart or advance their immersive technology implementation strategies.

EU Enterprise Companies

Spotlight on Niantic: Making the Real World a Canvas for XR Experiences

Niantic’s Senior Director of Platform Go-To-Market, Strategy and Operations, Kit Gilbert, introduced advancements in AR, driven by the Niantic Map—a 3D, human-centric map that powers immersive, location-based experiences with the philosophy: “Capture, Locate, Augment.” This vision encourages deeper connections to people and places rather than isolation.

What’s new today? Niantic announced the Real World Developer Challenge, offering a $15,000 prize pool, and introduced Niantic Studio as a free, all-in-one toolset to create cross-device XR experiences. Studio now integrates the Niantic Visual Positioning System (VPS), providing centimeter-level precision for real-time, shared AR interactions. Niantic also highlighted its collaboration with the Missing Maps initiative for cultural preservation through user-generated content.

Watch Niantic’s full talk on our YouTube Channel.

The Expo Experience: Exhibitors, Playground, Startups, and Global Pavilions

The energy in the AWE Expo Hall has been electric on day one as over 120 exhibitors have been showcasing the latest in augmented and virtual reality innovation. This year’s expo floor is packed with a diverse range of participants—from industry giants like Niantic, Meta, and Unity, to the Hong Kong Pavilion, where 20 innovative companies that are making waves in Asia’s XR industry are showing off their AR and VR solutions. Plus, plenty of incredible European companies are present, along with several impressive local start-ups.

AWE EU 2024 expo shots

As always, hundreds of attendees were lining up en-masse to enter the expo floor at 11 AM. Once the Media and Enterprise VIP tours wrapped up, the doors to Europe’s largest and most exciting XR-dedicated exhibition floor opened up, with visitors jumping in to enjoy everything that AWE EU has on offer this year. The AWE Playground, in particular, has been buzzing today, with visitors all excited to engage in hands-on experiences.

See here the recording of the media tour.

Snap AR Talk and Lounge

Daniel Wagner, Director of Computer Vision Engineering at Snap Inc., introduced the new Spectacles AR glasses, equipped with Snap OS and innovative features like hand tracking and real-time shared experiences. These standalone glasses require no phone, keeping users grounded in the real world while enhancing it with immersive AR. Wagner also announced that Spectacles will soon be available in European countries, including Austria. Alongside the main stage presentation, Snap has set up a large lounge where attendees can test the new Spectacles and interact with the Snap team.

Watch the talk recording here.

Track Rooms Filled with Exciting Sessions

Afternoon sessions at AWE EU 2024 covered a diverse range of topics, from gamified education to cutting-edge AR lens material. Panels explored XR’s role in environmental tech, digital twins, and mass adoption, while automotive innovation took center stage with Audi’s insights into mixed reality in production. Experts also highlighted transformative XR applications in industries like retail, culture, and beyond, ensuring there was something for every attendee.

What’s Coming Up on Day 2?

With Day 1 of AWE EU 2024 already setting the bar high, and the partner party has not even started yet, day 2 promises more can’t-miss keynotes, thought-provoking sessions, and of course, more opportunities to explore the expo floor and connect with the XR community. Be sure to check out talks like:

Last, but not least, please make sure to mark your agenda for the Event Wrap-up & Best in Show Awards.

Stay tuned for more updates from AWE EU 2024 as Day 2 unfolds. For real-time coverage, follow us on social media, track the #AWE2024 hashtag, and don’t miss out on the on-demand sessions soon to be available on the AWE YouTube channel. Until then, see you on the expo floor!

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