Latest news with #Izadi
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- AU Financial Review
Sam Altman's $10b bet to give OpenAI its ‘iPhone moment'
On Wednesday, the Iranian-born computer scientist Shahram Izadi took to the stage at Google's annual developer conference in Silicon Valley, and did the thing that everyone in the computer community knows not to do. Izadi, an expert in augmented reality and natural user interfaces, who helped Microsoft launch its Hololens AR system and who now works for Google, attempted a live demonstration of a new AI device Google is working on.
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- AU Financial Review
Sam Altman's $6.5b bet to give AI its ‘iPhone moment'
On Wednesday, the Iranian-born computer scientist Shahram Izadi took to the stage at Google's annual developer conference in Silicon Valley, and did the thing that everyone in the computer community knows not to do. Izadi, an expert in augmented reality and natural user interfaces, who helped Microsoft launch its Hololens AR system and who now works for Google, attempted a live demonstration of a new AI device Google is working on.
Axios
08-04-2025
- Axios
Google shows new AR glasses, VR headset at TED
Google on Tuesday for the first time showed off prototype glasses that combine a miniature display with the company's Gemini AI assistant. Why it matters: Google joins Meta, Apple and others in exploring the ability to overlay a digital display on the real world. Cost remains a hurdle to bringing such devices to a broad market. Google also demoed a forthcoming mixed reality headset along the lines of Apple's Vision Pro in demos at the TED Conference in Vancouver. Driving the news: Android XR head Shahram Izadi and a colleague showed the glasses, which look similar to a standard pair of specs, performing live translation from Farsi to English, scanning a book and performing other tasks. "These glasses work with your phone, streaming back and forth, allowing the glasses to be very lightweight and access all of your phone apps," Izadi said. Izadi also showed a preview of an immersive mixed reality headset being built with Samsung that bears a striking resemblance to Apple Vision Pro and uses pass-through video to allow the real and digital worlds to merge. In that demo, Google showed the ability to overlay multiple windows, see an immersive view of Cape Town South Africa and play a 360-degree video of snowboarding. A Google representative was not immediately available to offer further details. The big picture: Meta showed off a similar concept last year with its Orion glasses. What's next: The next key will be figuring out how to improve battery life and getting the cost down.
CBC
15-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
With glowing hearts, B.C. flag maker sees sales rise amid U.S. tariff threats
Social Sharing A flag manufacturer in British Columbia says it is seeing a spike in sales of Canadian flags amid threats of U.S. tariffs, including a rise in orders from south of the border. Julia Izadi of Flying Colours International said February is often a time when the company restocks flags and plans ahead for Canada Day on July 1. This year has been different as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose widespread tariffs on Canadian products. Izadi told CBC's On the Coast that phones at their Port Coquitlam location have been "ringing off the hook" amid growing demand for Canadian flags. "Our Canada flag sales have quadrupled here in the last 11 days," she said Tuesday. WATCH | B.C. flag maker seeing rise in sales amid U.S. tariff threats B.C. flag maker seeing rise in sales amid U.S. tariff threats 2 days ago Duration 2:04 After weeks of tariff threats and more talk of Canada becoming the 51st state, politicians and pollsters are noting a surge in Canadian pride. As Liam Britten reports, some stores are seeing it too. The company is even seeing a rise in orders south of the border, she said, with orders coming from Canadian expats and U.S. citizens showing support for their northern neighbours. Izadi said a call from five former prime ministers to fly the red maple leaf this weekend in a huge display of national pride has "upped the ante" as the company deals with demand. Saturday is Flag Day, which is held annually to mark the first time the red-and-white maple leaf flag was raised on Parliament Hill on Feb. 15, 1965, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign. The former prime ministers – Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper – jointly wrote an open letter, telling Canadians to "show the flag as never before" as the country contends with "threats and insults from Donald Trump." The former politicians added that they have "witnessed a surge of Canadian pride and patriotism" in the wake of Trump's threats and they are heartened to see so many people "come together to express their love for our country and their determination to defend Canada's values and our independence." A recent Angus Reid poll recorded an average increase in national pride across Canada of nine points, from 58 per cent in December to 67 per cent in February. A recent survey from Leger also found an uptick in respondents saying they were proud to be Canadian. Izadi said Flying Colours International makes about 50,000 Canadian flags per year at its Port Coquitlam facility as well as its head office in Toronto. She said the company is taking an "all hands on deck" approach amid the surge in business, and she feels its work is serving a higher purpose. "it's just really fulfilling to see Canadians want to fly that flag," she said. "The flag represents such a shared sense of unity and national identity. Beyond the sales, it's just a reminder of how symbols can really bring people together. And that is what is happening right now all over Canada."
