What’s new in AR this month? In September 2025, Meta announced major updates to its Horizon OS, introducing open APIs that let AR devices from other brands access shared metaverse spaces. Meanwhile, Apple expanded its Vision Pro SDK to support persistent AR anchors, enabling digital content to remain fixed in real-world environments. Together, these updates mark the next phase of the spatial internet—where AR and the metaverse converge to create a unified, immersive digital layer across the globe.
What Is the Spatial Internet?
The spatial internet refers to the next evolution of the web—one that merges physical and digital realities into a continuous 3D environment. Unlike today’s flat screens and 2D interfaces, the spatial internet uses AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and AI to create interactive, context-aware spaces. In this world, data is no longer hidden behind windows—it lives around us, layered seamlessly over the physical world.
The Role of AR in the Metaverse
AR is the bridge between the metaverse and the real world. While VR transports users to entirely virtual environments, AR brings digital objects and information into the real one. This distinction is key: AR anchors the metaverse to our physical context, transforming daily life into a blend of tangible and digital interactions.
Imagine entering your office and seeing your schedule floating above your desk, or walking down a city street while digital storefronts display personalized product recommendations. That’s the metaverse made practical through AR.
How AR and the Metaverse Converge
- Persistent Digital Layers: The new AR SDKs from Apple and Meta allow developers to create persistent “anchors” that remain in place. For example, a museum could attach a 3D guide to every artwork, visible to all visitors through AR glasses.
- Cross-Platform Identity: Avatars, profiles, and digital assets will follow users across devices and platforms. AR ensures that your digital presence—whether a hologram or workspace layout—remains consistent and contextually aware.
- Interoperable Spaces: Open standards like OpenXR and USDZ allow AR and VR environments to share content formats, enabling smoother transitions between metaverse worlds.
Key Industries Leading the Shift
1. Architecture and Design
AR tools integrated with metaverse platforms enable architects to design collaboratively in shared 3D spaces. Clients can walk through virtual models placed within real-world construction sites, adjusting materials, lighting, and layout instantly. This fusion of digital visualization and physical context is transforming how spaces are conceived and built.
2. Retail and Commerce
AR storefronts within metaverse ecosystems are redefining shopping. Customers can try on clothing using AR mirrors, explore virtual showrooms, and complete purchases through immersive experiences that connect physical products with digital twins.
3. Education and Learning
In the spatial internet, classrooms extend beyond physical walls. Students can study alongside holographic tutors, interact with 3D simulations, and collaborate globally in shared metaverse campuses. AR brings learning to life—turning abstract concepts into tangible, interactive lessons.
4. Work and Collaboration
AR-enabled virtual offices allow teams to co-create, share holographic documents, and visualize project data in shared 3D environments. Unlike video calls, AR workspaces replicate real human presence, eye contact, and spatial awareness—factors that improve engagement and creative output.
Case Studies
- Meta Horizon OS: Expanding AR interoperability by allowing third-party headsets to join Horizon Workrooms, a major step toward a cross-platform metaverse.
- Autodesk + Unity Integration: Designers can now push 3D architectural models directly into AR-enabled virtual collaboration rooms.
- Nike Digital Twin Initiative: The company is developing AR-linked product passports to verify authenticity and reduce counterfeiting.
Quick Facts & Data Insights
- By 2026, over 1.2 billion devices will support AR capabilities globally.
- Metaverse-related industries are projected to generate $1.5 trillion annually by 2030.
- 73% of surveyed consumers say they expect to use AR daily for shopping, navigation, or learning within three years.
Challenges to Overcome
- Interoperability: Competing ecosystems risk creating digital silos instead of shared metaverse spaces.
- Hardware cost: Consumer-grade AR glasses remain expensive, limiting mainstream adoption.
- Data privacy: Continuous spatial mapping raises concerns about surveillance and user consent.
- Energy consumption: Persistent AR environments demand efficient processing to maintain sustainability.
Best Practices for Businesses Entering the Spatial Internet
- Adopt open standards: Build AR experiences compatible with WebXR, OpenXR, and USDZ for interoperability.
- Focus on utility, not novelty: Design AR features that solve real-world problems, not just entertain.
- Integrate AI: Use AI-driven personalization to make AR experiences context-aware and responsive.
- Prioritize ethical design: Be transparent about data collection and ensure inclusivity in spatial interactions.
Looking Ahead: The Spatial Internet by 2026
By 2026, the metaverse will no longer be confined to headsets or apps—it will surround us. Every physical space will have a digital counterpart. AR glasses will replace smartphones as our primary access point to information. Personalized environments, digital art, and even city infrastructure will exist as part of the same shared spatial network.
The future will not distinguish between online and offline—it will merge them. As AR hardware becomes lighter, cheaper, and AI-powered, the metaverse will evolve into an invisible infrastructure woven into our daily lives.
Key Takeaways
- AR is the gateway that connects the metaverse to the physical world, making digital interaction tangible.
- Businesses adopting AR-driven spatial strategies will gain a first-mover advantage in design, commerce, and collaboration.
- The next phase of the web—spatial internet—will blur the lines between real and digital environments.
- By 2026, AR and the metaverse will form a single, unified ecosystem powering global connectivity.
