Seeking a Solution to the Skilled Labor Shortage? XR Marks the Spot

Frontline workers make up 70–80% of the global workforce, roughly 2.7 billion people, and are essential to sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and logistics. 75% of frontline workers report burnout, and alarmingly for organizations, 59% are considering leaving their jobs. Meanwhile, AI is transforming workflows for desk-based employees, but most frontline workers lack access to keyboards, screens, and sometimes digital basics like email and Wi-Fi. To enable these frontline workers, we need hands-free devices that move AI offscreen and into the world. This talk explores that challenge through real-world examples of delivering AI content via hands-free XR devices—highlighting implementation, impact, and what’s next for both people and technology.