Augmented reality-based social media platform Snapchat has recorded 50 per cent growth in the AR developer community in India and registered the highest number of its AR lenses published in the country, a senior official of Snap said yesterday.

Snap claims to have more than 375,000 creators worldwide in the augmented reality (AR) ecosystem that has built over four million AR lenses.

“Indian developers are at the forefront of innovation, bringing engaging and creative experiences to life. In fact, among all countries, the highest number of lenses published on Snapchat come from India. And the developer community here has grown by more than half, over the last two years. India is an extraordinary country where AR has become a part of daily life,” Snap CTO Bobby Murphy said in a statement, according to a PTI report.

Meanwhile, Indianbroadcastingworld.com accessed the media statement of Snap that added the company showcased the transformative power of AR) at the second annual India AR Day event held in Mumbai recently, highlighting how the company is driving a future-forward vision for AR, fostering creativity, and building a thriving ecosystem, particularly within India’s dynamic developer landscape.

The Mumbai event brought together India’s top AR creators, developers, brands, partners and the wider community. Attendees saw how creators, developers, and brands can use the technology to connect more deeply with their audiences and the interactive experiences showcased AR’s potential across various fields taking it from entertainment to utility.

Snap’s ‘Any Body Can Develop’ experience offered guests a hands-on opportunity to learn and create their own Lenses.

Pulkit Trivedi, MD, India, Snap Inc., added, “India is home to a thriving community of creators and developers who are shaping the future of AR. With over 200 million Snapchatters in India using the platform to visually express themselves, connect, and enjoy content, 3 AR has become central to communication and creativity.

“We believe long-term success in AR relies on a strong developer ecosystem, and we remain deeply committed to fostering this vibrant community. Seeing Snapchatters engage with AR Lenses over 80 billion times a month is a testament to the power of creative expression, 4 and we’re excited to continue supporting and celebrating this innovation.”

Spectacles, Snap’s fifth-generation see-through AR glasses, were available for demonstration for the first time in India. These standalone, see-through AR glasses powered by Snap OS enable you to interact with AR in a whole new way. Snap OS is a new kind of operating system purpose-built for AR that powers Spectacles and delivers a seamless engaging experience.

In India, where over 85 percent of Snapchatters use Lenses 5 for connecting with friends and family, especially around key cultural moments and festivals, the focus on creative expression is undeniable.

Snap’s AR ecosystem is booming, as more than 375,000 creators worldwide have built over 4 million AR Lenses, which Snapchatters have engaged with more than 4.5 trillion times in just the last year. India’s AR developer community is remarkable with growth of the creator network coming not only from capital cities but also other towns including Goraya, Prayagraj, Cochin, Ambala, to name a few.

Snap is also deeply invested in expanding AR adoption across India, including in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Localized initiatives like Lens Studio training meet-ups in cities like Surat, Coimbatore, Rajkot, Trichy, Trivandrum and Gwalior are empowering aspiring creators to build their first Lenses and start their AR journeys. Snap has hosted 120+ meetups in 2024, reaching over 6,000 AR Developers.

The company said strategic initiatives and partnerships with top brands — Nykaa, Myntra, Doritos-Pepsi Co., Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Swiggy, Ajio, Spotify and Surf Excel — are creating monetization opportunities, empowering creators to build sustainable careers.