We've been waiting for a killer app for augmented reality (AR) for a long time, but it probably won't come via the iPhone. Apple CEO Tim Cook has some ideas about how AR could change the way we talk and interact, and it's clear that these scenarios work best in wearable devices.

In an interview with Kara Swisher for The New York Times and her podcast Sway, Cook did not comment on Apple's upcoming mixed reality headset or the rumored Apple Glass, but he did say that devices like these provided a sneak preview of how they might be used in the real world.

"The promise of AR is that you and I are having a great conversation right now," Cook told Swisher.

"If we can augment the discussion with charts and things like that, it's going to be even better. And I think your audience would benefit from that as well."

Cook says augmented AR conversations could impact a variety of areas, including health, education, gaming, and retail. For example, what if you could have a conversation with a doctor while looking at x-rays in a 3D space? Or imagine being able to try on clothes virtually without having to go to a fitting room.

Cook also suggested that AR could be incorporated into other Apple products besides the iPhone and iPad. And I think it will be even bigger in the future."

That future is said to include Apple's mixed reality headset, which could appear within the next few months and is said to help developers create engaging AR apps. The headset is said to feature multiple external cameras and sensors, as well as eye tracking and iris recognition.

Additionally, Apple's mixed reality headset is expected to offer hand tracking and gesture control, as well as LiDAR sensors. The price of this mixed reality headset could reportedly range from $1,000 to $3,000, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Apple Glasses are expected to be lightweight eyewear that will provide an augmented reality experience on the go; Apple Glasses may work in conjunction with the iPhone, but the earliest release date we have heard is 2023.

Apple's WWDC 2021 event is coming up in June, and Apple may talk about its augmented reality ambitions as part of iOS 15 at that event. However, it would be surprising to see new hardware announced at that developer event.