Google has started rolling out a new photorealistic avatar system \u2013 Likeness \u2013 for Android XR headsets.<\/p>\n
The feature is designed to make video calls feel more natural by replacing webcams with realistic digital versions of users.<\/p>\n
The rollout begins in beta and follows earlier previews shown during Google\u2019s Android XR announcements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis allows [feature] others to see you authentically while you\u2019re using your Android XR headset for video calls, making your interactions feel natural and personal,\u201d said Shahram Izadi, VP Android XR, Google<\/strong>.<\/p>\n While Apple currently leads the market with Vision Pro, Google is clearly positioning Android XR as a serious alternative. Likeness plays a key role in that strategy by focusing on communication, one of the most common use cases for extended reality.<\/p>\n The idea is simple: make remote conversations feel more human without forcing people to change how they already communicate.<\/p>\n How it works<\/p>\n Likeness is essentially a photorealistic avatar created by scanning a user\u2019s face. The scan is then animated using sensor data from an Android XR headset.<\/p>\n As a result, the avatar mirrors facial expressions, head movement, and subtle gestures in real time.<\/p>\n The avatar replaces a standard webcam feed during video calls. Other participants see a lifelike digital face instead of a live camera image.<\/p>\n This allows users to maintain eye contact and express emotion without showing their real environment.<\/p>\n Importantly, the feature is not a cartoon or stylized avatar, with Google clearly aiming for realism.<\/p>\n Skin texture, lighting, and facial proportions are designed to closely resemble the real person. Early demonstrations suggest the avatars look convincing and avoid exaggerated expressions.<\/p>\n For now, Likeness appears as a two-dimensional image in calls. This makes it compatible with popular services like Google Meet, Zoom, and Messenger without any special integration.<\/p>\n Creating a Likeness avatar using a phone<\/p>\n Unlike Apple\u2019s approach, Google does not use the headset to scan a user\u2019s face.<\/p>\n Instead, the company has released a Likeness beta app for Android phones.<\/p>\n Users hold their phone in front of their face and follow guided instructions to complete the scan.<\/p>\n This method has clear advantages. A phone is lighter and easier to handle than a headset. It also makes the setup process faster and less awkward. For many users, this will feel more familiar and comfortable.<\/p>\n However, the phone-based approach also introduces limitations. The Likeness scanning app only works on a small number of devices. Supported phones include the Pixel 8 series, the Galaxy S23 lineup, and the Galaxy Z Fold5.<\/p>\n By comparison, Apple allows any Vision Pro user to create a Persona directly on the headset. That difference could affect adoption, especially in mixed-device workplaces.<\/p>\n No spatial meetings yet, but wide app support<\/p>\n While Likeness closely resembles Apple\u2019s Personas, it lacks one major feature \u2013 there are no spatial meetings yet. Users cannot meet as fully three-dimensional avatars inside shared virtual spaces.<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s Vision Pro already supports spatial FaceTime calls. These place Persona avatars in a shared environment, creating a stronger sense of presence.<\/p>\n Google has confirmed that spatial meetings are planned, but the company has not shared a release timeline. For now, Likeness remains limited to flat video call presentations.<\/p>\n That said, Google\u2019s choice appears intentional.<\/p>\n By focusing on virtual webcam compatibility first, Likeness works immediately with existing tools. Users do not need to convince others to adopt new platforms or workflows.<\/p>\n This approach also enables cross-platform communication. Likeness users can join calls with standard webcam users or even Apple Persona users. The experience may be less immersive, but it is far more practical.<\/p>\n Hardware limits across Android XR devices<\/p>\n Not every Android XR device will support Likeness though.<\/p>\n Photorealistic avatars require powerful processors and multiple sensors. These include cameras for tracking eyes, mouth movement, and facial expressions.<\/p>\n Many upcoming Android XR smart glasses do not meet these requirements \u2013 they are designed to be lightweight and discreet.<\/p>\n As a result, they lack the hardware needed to animate realistic faces.<\/p>\n Some full Android XR headsets may also struggle.<\/p>\n Devices without eye- and mouth-tracking cameras cannot fully animate a Likeness avatar. While simulated facial motion is possible, it often looks unnatural when applied to realistic faces.<\/p>\n This highlights a larger challenge for the XR industry. As headsets become smaller, there is less room for sensors. Maintaining high avatar fidelity while reducing hardware size will be difficult.<\/p>\n Despite these challenges, Likeness represents an important step for Android XR. Photorealistic avatars offer a middle ground between webcams and full virtual worlds. They allow users to appear present without revealing their surroundings.<\/p>\n For remote work and long video calls, that balance could be appealing. It also shows that Google views avatars as a core communication feature, not a novelty.<\/p>\n While Apple may currently lead in immersion, Google is betting on accessibility, compatibility, and scale to close the gap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Google has started rolling out a new photorealistic avatar system \u2013 Likeness \u2013 for Android XR headsets. 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