Avi Bar-Zeev, HoloLens co-inventor and longtime AR/VR stalwart, has left Apple, Variety reports.
Bar-Zeev helped found and invent the core technologies behind HoloLens at Microsoft, assembling the company’s very first AR prototypes, demos and UX concepts.
According to his LinkenIn bio, Bar-Zeev worked on HoloLens (first dubbed ‘Screen Zero’, then ‘Fortaleza’) up until 2012 when he left Microsoft to found his own company Syntertainment.
Among the list of Bar-Zeev’s other accolades over the past 25+ years: co-founder of the company behind Google Earth, co-creator of the core technology behind Second Life, and co-creator of Disney’s ’90s-era “Aladdin’s Magic Carpet” VR Ride.
According to Variety, Bar-Zeev was involved in the creation of an unannounced Apple AR headset—something a supposed Apple insider said may see a possible 2020 launch. Bar-Zeev officially stepped down from his position as senior manager of prototype development last month, which included work on “a new effort” for Apple.
“I left my full-time position at Apple in January,” Bar-Zeev told Variety. “I had the best exit one can imagine. I have only nice things to say about Apple and won’t comment on any specific product plans.”
Bar-Zeev’s next steps aren’t certain, although he says he’s planning on consulting in the AR industry while exploring what may be next in the space.
If the tweet below means anything, he probably won’t be heading to Facebook/Oculus anytime soon.
A colleague wanted to chat on WhatsApp today. My reply: no Facebook apps on any device, ever. How can we trust them to police themselves?
— Avi Bar-Zeev (@avibarzeev) January 30, 2019
