Hamamatsu Photonics and MEETOPTICS have announced a partnership to exclusively integrate MEETOPTICS' scientific AI chat tool into Hamamatsu's product portfolio, helping users find photonic devices.
AR glasses display developer Cellid has partnered with Japanese eyewear retailer Megane Top to jointly develop and sell AR glasses.
The Meta Quest Horizon OS 2.9 (v209) system update has begun rolling out on the Public Test Channel (PTC), reworking window management and restoring the classic home environment.
The Ozcan laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles developed a digital-optical hybrid system capable of identifying deepfake videos simultaneously across multiple channels.
Why we recommend it: The original article shows a new application of diffractive optical processors in AI vision tasks, a practical case of optical computing
Smart contact lens company XPANCEO has partnered with Contamac to advance the development of AR contact lenses using materials already used in FDA-cleared ophthalmic devices.
Yutong Optics disclosed on September 30 that it has introduced glass aspherical array molding technology into C-Lens manufacturing, completing the path from process validation to monthly output in the tens of millions and entering scaled scheduling and shipment. The company operates more than 600 sets of precision molding automation equipment and over 30 imported automatic coating machines, with a stable first-pass yield above 85 percent. Its products have been recognized by leading optical module customers.
The Joint Laboratory for High Power Laser and Physics at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) has proposed a laser spot analysis system based on an improved YOLOv8-seg to meet the need for rapid, precise alignment of optics along the full chain of high-power laser facilities, and has completed experimental validation.
Why we recommend it: The original paper demonstrates a deep learning segmentation model for laser facility alignment, a case of AI entering optical assembly and adjustment
Data from NE Times shows that LiDAR installations in Chinese passenger vehicles reached 525,500 units in August 2026. Hesai installed 182,436 units, just 65 fewer than Huawei, and the two together accounted for 69.4%. The growth logic is extending beyond simply adding vehicle models to multiple LiDARs per vehicle, robot perception and 3D spatial mapping.
Why we recommend it: The original paper provides monthly installation and market share data, useful for assessing the automotive LiDAR market landscape
AT&T announced a multiyear fiber optic cable supply agreement with Corning worth more than $3 billion in total. Corning will continue delivering fiber and cable for AT&T's home broadband expansion. AT&T said average monthly traffic per fiber user has surpassed 1 TB, five times the 2016 level.
Why we recommend it: The original paper gives the contract value and user traffic growth, helping to understand the scale of fiber demand driven by AI and video
Huawei announced on September 29 that the Mate 90 series will launch on October 1, and showed the Huawei Ruiying Z10 modular camera in a teaser video, marking Huawei's entry into the external optics market for mobile imaging.
A Lightwave article notes that broadband networks are converging on architectures combining HFC, fiber, wireless and edge connectivity, placing higher demands on physical-layer density, speed and operations, and requiring fiber infrastructure built for AI.
During the 27th CIOE, Phenix Optics brand director Guo Jingyun spoke to Ofweek Optics about how the company, founded in 1965 and the first listed company in the optics industry, is seeking new opportunities in the 'Light + AI' wave.
Citing Yole's 2025 diffractive optics report, the article notes that metasurfaces are a nanoscale subclass of DOE diffractive optical elements, not a replacement. The two have diverged in physical mechanisms, manufacturing routes and industrialization stages: traditional DOEs support today's volume production of AR optical waveguides, while metasurfaces carry future upgrades.
Meta's Muse AI agent will soon arrive on its smart glasses, able to carry out actions on request without the user having to take the phone out of a pocket.
The US CPSC and Health Canada issued a recall on September 24 after the left temple of INMO AIR3 smart glasses could overheat during prolonged use. INMO has received 10 overheating reports, including burning sensations on the face and left ear. The recall covers about 1,643 pairs in the US and about 120 pairs in Canada, with free repairs and system updates offered as the remedy.
Why we recommend it: The original paper gives the number of recalled units and incident reports, helping to understand the thermal engineering constraints of lightweight AI glasses
Liminal, known for short emotion-focused VR experiences, is bringing its expertise to smart glasses with an app for Meta glasses that provides meditation guidance based on what the user sees.
The article argues that 2026 is the first year of optical waveguide mass production, with multiple production capacities of one million units coming online, but capacity expansion does not equal stable mass production. The core barrier has shifted from whether it can be done to whether it can be done consistently at high yield. The three major bottlenecks in materials, processes and inspection are interlinked, requiring end-to-end system capabilities.
An OFweek article analyzes how silicon carbide optical waveguides are moving from an alternative AR performance material to a core element of mass production, with materials, chips and modules all scaling up simultaneously. It cites actions including Aifalong's oversubscribed Series B round of more than 100 million yuan to build an 8-inch silicon carbide metasurface optical waveguide chip production line, Guangna Siwei's financing of nearly 200 million yuan, and Goertek Optics' F50Se module achieving a 50-degree field of view. The author believes cost, processing yield and supply chain maturity remain the three hurdles before large-scale deployment, with the current average price of a SiC waveguide chip at 250-350 US dollars.
Meta unveiled the Ray-Ban Meta Audio at Connect 2026, removing the camera and adopting a lighter, more fashionable design that is easier for society to accept amid public privacy concerns.
An article by Dolphin Research breaks down Lumentum: its share price has risen nearly tenfold in one year, its market value exceeds 70 billion US dollars, and Nvidia invested 2 billion US dollars for a stake in March 2026. The article argues that no matter how optical module form factors change, the position of high-value, barrier-protected optical engines remains solid.
Hesai, Seyond and RoboSense successively released financial reports in August. Comparing the three, the article points out that as mass-produced vehicle models, robotics and embodied intelligence become real demand, the growth logic of leading LiDAR companies is diverging.
At Connect 2026, Meta announced that Meta Ray-Ban Display will go on sale outside the US, with online ordering and no in-store fitting required, plus new features such as third-party app discovery and navigation improvements.
Why we recommend it: The original paper shows display AI glasses moving from limited in-store fitting to online and international sales, a signal of channel expansion
Huiyu Ecology announced that its majority-owned subsidiary Wuhan Junheng Technology plans to build an R&D and production base in the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone, replacing and upgrading its existing annual capacity of 1.5 million units. Once completed, the project will add 2 million units of optical module capacity.
Hengtong Optic-Electric has released a private placement plan to raise up to CNY 6.636 billion for next-generation optical fiber R&D and production, construction of high-end optical new materials in Inner Mongolia, and advanced AI optical interconnect projects. The issuance will target no more than 35 investors.
Why we recommend it: The original article lists the investment directions, helping to understand the optical fiber leader's spending on AI optical interconnect
The article looks at AI tour-guide glasses: tourists wearing the same AI glasses have appeared in Shanghai, hearing the story of the Huxinting Teahouse by the Nine-Turn Bridge and placing voice orders for xiaolongbao at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. Earlier, iFlytek AI glasses gained popularity among outbound travelers with real-time cross-border translation.
In an exclusive interview with C114, Photon Bridge's Chief Commercial Officer discusses the interconnect bandwidth pressure created by expanding AI compute clusters and the role of integrated photonics in breaking through optical module power and density limits, with a focus on the mass-production challenges of external light sources (ELS) and the Dutch integrated photonics ecosystem.
At the 27th CIOE and SIVA 2026, the keywords for VR/AR optics centered on mass production, thin-and-light design, and color displays for AR glasses. The article summarizes show trends, noting that 4-inch, 6-inch and other semiconductor wafers were everywhere, serving as a way to demonstrate mass-production capability.
Why we recommend it: The original article summarizes the directions of multiple AR optics makers at the show, making it easy to compare the current state of the AR optics supply chain
Under the theme "Strong Networks, Thriving Computing, Intelligent Ecosystem," PT Expo 2026 saw Hengtong Optic-Electric showcase optical fiber, optical interconnect and other optoelectronic solutions for AI computing, supporting the implementation of the "AI + Information and Communications" policy.
At Connect 2026, Meta announced updates to its AI glasses lineup, including bringing its personal AI assistant Muse to the glasses, hearing enhancement software and Dolby Atmos audio recording.
Meta has unveiled the 100-gram Meta VR Glasses, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite processor with a separate compute unit. They are scheduled to launch in spring 2027 at USD 1,300.
Why we recommend it: The original article gives the weight, price and launch timing, marking a key milestone as headsets converge toward a glasses form factor
On September 17, Largan Precision spent CNY 1.172 billion to acquire about 2,259 ping of land and 3,695 ping of buildings in Nantun, Taichung. This was its seventh real estate transaction since late June, bringing the total to CNY 8.078 billion. Chairman Lin Enping confirmed in July that the company had received its first fiber array order from a customer, with the land purchases paving the way for mass production in 2027.
Why we recommend it: The original article gives the pace and value of the land purchases, showing the scale of the smartphone lens leader's bet on CPO fiber arrays
During CIOE 2026, Xiong Guanhao, Senior Director of Strategy and Marketing at Sunny Optics, said AI is moving from the cloud into the physical world, while optics is evolving from an imaging tool into a gateway through which AI acquires information, understands the world and transmits data.
The article groups AR optical waveguides into three major categories and five technology routes: geometric, diffractive (including SRG, VHG and PVG) and metasurface. Each relies on different optical principles, performance limits and industrialization timelines, and the article argues that no single solution fits all applications.
XR hardware maker Skyworth XR will showcase head-worn and wrist-worn first-person data capture systems for embodied AI training at the IROS 2026 robotics conference.
Niantic Spatial and the Singapore Land Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding to assess the technical feasibility of building Singapore's first national-scale Visual Positioning System (VPS).
LightCounting's latest quarterly report says NPO dominated much of the discussion at the recent CIOE, much like the industry's enthusiasm for LPO a few years ago. However, sales of retimed pluggable optical modules continue to hit new highs, with Ethernet optical modules accounting for the majority of overall sales.
Why we recommend it: The original article contrasts sales data with the hype, helping to gauge the real pace of NPO and pluggable optical modules
An article by VR Tuoluo uses Apple's iPhone Duo and its trade-offs in a foldable form factor as an example to analyze how AI glasses are shifting from adding features to subtraction: for hardware worn close to the body for long periods, removing cameras can deliver lighter weight and fewer privacy concerns.
Huawei and the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics have signed a strategic cooperation agreement, making AI + optics a core focus, with Huawei pledging priority support in computing resources and AI teams. Earlier, on September 17, Huawei unveiled the Ascend 960 superpod using near-package optics (NPO) at Huawei Connect 2026, employing 5,500 in-house Hi-ONE optical engines.
Why we recommend it: The source text places the industry-academia partnership alongside the NPO superpod, showing Huawei's overall strategy in optical interconnects and AI optics
C114 and CIOE jointly held the AI + New Optical Fiber Applications Forum in Shenzhen on September 11. The event focused on high-density optical interconnects for AIDC, G.654.E backbone deployment and hollow-core fiber, with guests from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the three major telecom operators and cloud providers in attendance.
C114 Insight notes that at CIOE 2026, optical module makers are competing on 1.6T, 3.2T and 6.4T speeds, while test and measurement is another crowded arena. Lianxun Instruments, which listed on the STAR Market this April, saw its shares reach a high of 2777.77 yuan within three months of its debut, making it the most expensive stock on the A-share market. The company supplies test equipment for optical modules and CPO optical engines.