What are the biggest insights and observations in AR and adjacent sectors this week? Welcome to Reality Bytes, featuring lightning-round commentary from AR Insider partner M7 Innovations. Founder Matt Maher lends his insights from the trenches of AR experience creation.

We continue the narrative this week with Maher’s look at Bytedance’s Pico acquisition, Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” and Instagram Favorites. See the quick summary below, followed by embedded video. And stay tuned each week for more AR-related musings from Maher.

🕺TikTok’s parent company Bytedance acquires VR startup Pico as well as launches Pixsoul – an avatar creation app for social.

🛒 Amazon is deploying its ‘Just Walk Out’ tech into two Whole Foods stores. We discuss the future of a cashier-less world.

🤳 Instagram is testing a ‘favorites’ feature to help curate your IG feed. We dive into their ulterior motives.

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