Apple is expected to finally announce the release of a mixed-reality headset in early June at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. (We aren’t holding our breath, though. A headset announcement was rumored to be on the docket in 2020, and then again last year, and again in January.)

The expected unveiling comes at a challenging time in the AR/VR market: Global shipments of AR/VR headsets declined in 2022, user penetration of AR/VR hardware is under 2%, and most employees aren’t interested in using it in the workplace. At the same time, the gaming industry is flourishing, and in 2023, AR/VR headset shipments are expected to tick up by 14%.

Meta’s Quest headsets dominate the somewhat sparse competitive landscape, but Apple doesn’t want to be left behind, Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC’s worldwide mobile device trackers, said.

A combination of strong consumer trust and an immense content ecosystem could position Apple to be more successful in its headset ambitions than its competitors, he added.

Keep reading here.—MA

We’ve all set out on an overly optimistic road trip. Freedom and adventure, what could be better? But once the initial thrill of hittin’ the road wears off, you’re stuck spending endless hours staring out the window, listening to someone else’s music, and watching the miles slowly tick by.

But road trips don’t have to be this way.

For this Memorial Day weekend, AT&T has changed the way you road trip: They’re letting you try AT&T In-car Wi-Fi for free. That’s right—they’ll turn your vehicle into an entertainment machine for FREE, so you can quit asking, “Are we there yet?”

Whether you’re traveling to the lake or making a cross-country journey, AT&T will help you stay connected and stream videos, music, and games no matter where the road takes you.

Become the star of the road trip with In-car Wi-Fi.

The city of Orlando wants to remind people it has more to offer than theme parks and tourism with a virtual representation of 800 square miles of the city and its surrounding area designed to help establish the region as an emerging tech hub.

City officials developed the 3D map in partnership with video game platform Unity as a way to showcase the area for businesses hoping to relocate there. The city’s administration is also exploring using the tech for everything from climate crisis preparedness to plotting the construction of cell towers.

Juan Fernando Santos, SVP of brand experience and innovation for Tavistock Group, who oversees a related digital twin model focused on the Lake Nona region, compared the project to a real-life version of the classic urban planning game SimCity, but for plotting new development projects.

Keep reading here.—PK

Coworking is a weekly segment where we spotlight Tech Brew readers who work with emerging technologies. Click here if you’d like a chance to be featured.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in tech?

I work with a team of very capable people to create software that generates designs of electrical systems for the construction industry, requiring minimal user input. As part of my job, I experiment with different algorithms to efficiently identify optimal solutions in the large space of all possible design combinations.

What’s your favorite tech project you’ve worked on?

I’m very excited to be working in generative design. It’s a very challenging area because there is no standard technique to solve this kind of problem, many of which are combinatorial in nature. The process of translating the rules we humans use to drive the design of a complex system in a way that can be well understood by a computer is also fascinating to me.

What emerging tech are you most optimistic about? Least? And why?

I’m optimistic about AI in general and reinforcement learning in particular. I’m optimistic in the sense that I see a lot of potential to really have a positive impact in many different areas of society. I think there is still a long way to go before we achieve a general-purpose AI capable of making better decisions than humans.

What’s the best piece of tech-related media you’ve read/watched/listened to?

I like reading The Algorithm newsletter from MIT Technology Review. It’s a great resource to keep up with the latest developments in AI and machine learning, and they cover topics like ethics, bias, privacy, and regulation, so you can get a sense of how AI is impacting society.

One thing we can’t guess from your LinkedIn profile?

I’m trying to learn French with Duolingo. I have a 6-and-a-half-year uninterrupted streak.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking about tech?

I love to bake. Last year, I became obsessed with macarons. They are technically challenging, yet you can get really creative with filling, flavors, and decorations.

Stat: 30%. That’s how much Instacart’s ad revenue jumped from 2021 to 2022, according to The Information. That’s a sizable jump amid a widely reported slowdown in ad spending.

Quote: “You’re [a] much better employer if you are helping your people think about what they can do to add value to AI, and to work alongside it.”—Tom Davenport, professor of information technology management at Babson College, to HR Brew

Read: Doug Rushkoff is ready to renounce the digital revolution (Wired)

Catch up on the top Tech Brew stories from the past few editions:

• PwC applies principles of actuarial science to managing the climate crisis
• The International Association of Privacy Professionals’ AI advisory board aims to upskill execs
• OpenAI CEO Sam Alman to Congress: Regulate me