For over a century, motorcycle helmets have prioritized impact protection with a largely consistent design. Now, a new generation of helmets is emerging, poised to integrate augmented reality and advanced display technology directly into the rider’s field of vision. Japanese manufacturer Shoei unveiled the GT-Air 3 Smart helmet at EICMA 2025, marking what the company claims is the first mass-produced helmet with integrated AR capabilities, developed in collaboration with French firm Eyelights.
Motorcycle helmets have remained largely unchanged for over a century, relying on a hard outer shell and impact-absorbing inner material to protect the rider’s head. But a new generation of helmets is poised to disrupt this long-standing design, integrating augmented reality and advanced display technology.
Shoei has been developing head-up display (HUD) systems to project crucial information directly into the rider’s field of vision, such as navigation instructions.
Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart: The First Mass-Produced AR Helmet
Japanese helmet manufacturer Shoei, in collaboration with Eyelights, a French company based in Toulouse specializing in augmented reality for mobility, has unveiled the Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart. This marks the first helmet to be produced on a large scale with integrated augmented reality capabilities.
According to project leaders, the third generation of Eyelights technology, applied to the GT-Air 3, reduces rider reaction time by 32% by projecting essential information approximately 9.8 feet (3 meters) ahead of the rider’s line of sight. This projected data can include speed, navigation prompts, incoming calls, and radar alerts. The helmet features a nano OLED visor with ultra-clear projection, offering full HD readability. It also incorporates a universal intercom with unlimited range, a microphone with active noise cancellation, and integration with the Google AI and Siri virtual assistants.
The Shoei GT-Air 3 typically retails for around 500 euros. However, the Smart version, equipped with the HUD system, increases the price to approximately 1200 euros. The model was first presented at EICMA 2025 (the Milan Motorcycle Show) and is not yet available for purchase in Spain.
The integration of AR into motorcycle helmets represents a significant step towards enhancing rider safety and convenience. Whether the Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart will prove to be a groundbreaking advancement or simply a sophisticated gadget remains to be seen, and will require thorough testing once the product becomes widely available.
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