Google has lost another key person working on its augmented reality devices, Business Insider has learned.
Paul Greco, a vice president of engineering at Google, departed the company this week for a new opportunity, according to a person familiar with the matter.
A Google spokesperson confirmed Greco’s departure but declined to comment on other details in this story.
Greco was formerly the chief technology officer of once-highflying startup Magic Leap. He joined Google in 2021 and initially worked on Google’s Project Starline, before leading hardware efforts on Iris, the company’s ill-fated smart glasses.
Iris was shut down last year, BI previously reported. The decision was made partly because Google chose to focus on a new partnership with Samsung for a mixed-reality headset more akin to Apple’s Vision Pro, which is codenamed Moohan, according to multiple current and former employees.
After Iris was killed, Greco moved to a new team that was attempting to develop products using technology from AR display company Raxium, which Google acquired in 2022.
Insiders say Greco’s team was firewalled from other AR efforts. Samsung executives had told Google they didn’t want other AR teams at Google to have access to the Moohan technology, two people told BI. It’s unclear how far Greco’s team got before he left.
Greco is the latest of a string of notable exits from across Google’s AR teams, which has included Eddie Chung and Mark Lucovsky, both of whom were leads on Iris.
Greco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While Google’s attention has turned to Moohan, it still sees a future for AR glasses, but one where it takes a more Android-like approach. Google is building a software operating system to license to hardware partners, rather than building glasses itself.
BI previously reported that Google had two internal glasses prototypes, codenamed Betty and Barry, for building and demoing that new software platform. It has since made even more variations for different types of AR glasses that it plans to show potential partners, according to a person familiar with the plans.
“They are not taking a product approach,” that person said. “They are building random devices in hopes of finding a partner that can get excited.”
Insiders say Google is looking at the upcoming CES technology trade show in Las Vegas as an opportunity to woo a partner. However, it’s still possible that Samsung chooses to work with Google on these glasses in addition to Moohan — in which case sources expect they might want to secure an exclusive deal.
Qualcomm on Thursday announced a new chip that it says Google and Samsung plan to use in its devices, which will likely include Moohan.
Are you a current or former Google employee with more to share? Got a tip? You can reach this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 628-228-1836 and email at hlangley@insider.com.