Global Scans · Augmented Reality · Weekly Summary

• [New] PwC projects VR and AR will add $1.5 trillion to global GDP by 2030 and create 23 million jobs. SQ Magazine
• The penetration of AR and VR in the US gaming industry is expected to surge at a CAGR of around 12.15%. MarkNtel Advisors
• The contract extension, awarded to BAE Systems, will support more than 4,500 workers across the UK in developing advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced software, and augmented reality. UKAuthority
• The new augmented reality (AR) glasses, called Specs, will allow users to see digital elements overlaid onto the world. BBC News
• American leadership in AI, augmented reality, virtual reality, and wireless communications will depend in part on whether spectrum governance can move with the technologies it is meant to support. International Center for Law & Economics
• Tesla, seen by many as the leading innovator in the auto space, could be an incubator for cutting-edge AR in automobiles. Next Reality
• The UK mobile AR retail application segment is projected to be valued at $29,335.5 million by 2035, while the healthcare AR segment in the UK was already valued at $788.41 million in 2025, reflecting diversified AR demand across UK verticals. www.limelightdigital.co.uk
• Snap will begin shipping its Specs AR glasses for $2,195, with preorders open now and shipping expected this fall in the US, UK, and France. AI-Weekly
• Beauty tech encompassing AI personalization, AR try-ons, and smart skincare devices was valued at $66.16 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $172.99 billion by 2030 at a 17.9% CAGR. www.limelightdigital.co.uk
• Near-eye display shipments, mostly adopted in wearable XR (extended reality) devices such as VR headsets and AR smartglasses, will be rising in the coming years and reach near 60 million by 2030. Omdia
• AR advertising revenue is predicted to reach $6.72 million by 2027, with brands reallocating marketing budgets away from passive display advertising and towards first-person interactive AR-based campaigns. www.limelightdigital.co.uk

Last updated: 23 August 2026