--- title: "Microsoft’s AR Headset Was a Complete Disaster During a Military Test" description: "The US military finally tested Microsoft's expensive HoloLens smart goggles for combat, and it's probably safe to say that the goggles failed." date: "2022-10-15" modified: "2022-10-15" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/microsoft-headset-disaster-military-test" categories: - "Military" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "hololens" - "microsoft" - "military" - "the digest" --- # Microsoft’s AR Headset Was a Complete Disaster During a Military Test ![The US military finally tested Microsoft's expensive HoloLens smart goggles for combat, and it's probably safe to say that the goggles failed.]() *\Image: US Army\* ## Bad Marks The US military finally tried out Microsoft's much-delayed, *very* expensive augmented reality goggles during a recent Army test — and [per an ]()[*Insider*]()[ report](), the company's tech failed pretty spectacularly. According to the report, the Army's Integrated Visual Augmented System (IVAS) device failed four out of six "evaluation events" in its recent "operational demo," according to a source at Microsoft. For a [contract worth nearly $22 billion dollars](), those are some dismal results. ## Glowing Immobile Ducks Soldiers allegedly found the goggles to have some fatal flaws. "The devices would have gotten us killed," one of the headset's testers said in an excerpt of an Army report dictated to *Insider*, referring to the fact that the goggles generate light that's visible from thousands of feet away — essentially turning wearers into glowing enemy targets. Beyond giving away the positions of soldiers, the report also found that soldiers complained that the device was uncomfortable and heavy, limiting their movement and even cutting off their peripheral vision. ## It's Fine, Actually Surprisingly, despite these damning claims, the Army is maintaining that the devices were actually a success. "The emerging results indicate that the program achieved success in most of the Army evaluation criteria," brigadier general Christopher Schneider told *Insider* in a statement, very much contradicting the results revealed by the leaked report. *"*However," he continued, "the results also identified areas where IVAS fell short and needs additional improvements, which the Army will address." We get it — most of us have had bad cases of buyer's remorse, too. Most impulse buys, however, don't come with a multibillion-dollar price tag. Hopefully, Microsoft and the military can figure it out — although with the Microsoft mixed reality division's [recent history]() in mind, we won't hold our breath. **READ MORE:** *['The devices would have gotten us killed.' Microsoft's military smart goggles failed four of six elements during a recent test, internal Army report says]()* **More on military tech:** *[Startup Claims New Military Tech Can See Straight Through Walls]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()