Apple buys AR startup called Mira, that makes headsets for the US military – Times of India

Apple has reportedly acquired Mira, a Los Angeles-based AR startup that makes headsets for other companies and the US military. According to a report in The Verge, citing a post from Mira CEO Ben Taft’s private Instagram account and a person familiar with the matter. The post displayed a number of employee badges. ‘Excited for Mira’s next chapter, at Apple -),’ he wrote in the caption. ‘7 year journey from dorm room to acquisition.’
Mira’s military contracts include a small agreement with the US Air Force and a $702,351 agreement with the Navy, according to government records and press releases, as per the Verge report. Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive is also said to have been an advisor to the startup.
Apple confirmed the acquisition
The report further added that Apple had confirmed the acquisition saying that it buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and generally does not discuss its purpose or plans. It is not clear how much Apple paid for Mira. Apple is said to have brought on at least 11 of Mira’s employees as part of the acquisition.
‘Mira builds the most scalable augmented reality hardware + software solutions in the market- enabling frontline workforces with communication tools and information when they need it most,’ reads the description on the company’s website.
The news comes just a day after Apple unveiled its first-generation augmented-reality headset called the Vision Pro. The device that some analysts are terming as one of its riskiest bets from Apple since the introduction of the iPhone more than a decade ago. With Vision Pro, Apple enters a market dominated by Meta Platforms.