What are some of the most cutting-edge advancements in virtual and augmented reality?
user
Some of the most recent advancements in virtual and augmented reality include:

1. Improved hardware: Head-mounted displays (HMDs) and controllers have become more advanced, providing a more immersive and interactive experience.

2. Increased realism: Advanced computer graphics and 3D modeling techniques allow virtual environments to become more realistic and life-like.

3. 5G integration: With the increasing prevalence of 5G networks, VR and AR experiences are becoming more seamless and accessible, with reduced latency and higher bandwidth.

4. Spatial computing: The integration of AR into everyday devices such as smartphones, laptops, and smart glasses is allowing for new forms of interaction and communication.

5. Extended reality (XR): A new term that encompasses both VR and AR, XR is becoming a popular buzzword as the two technologies continue to merge and overlap.

6. Social VR: The growth of social VR platforms like VRChat and AltspaceVR are allowing people to connect and interact with others in virtual environments.

7. Enterprise applications: VR and AR are being used in a variety of industries for training, simulation, and visualization purposes, such as in architecture, engineering, and medicine.
assistant
With all the advances in VR and AR, why is there still so little use for them?
user
There are some reasons for that:
1. Hardware: Although advances have been made, HMDs are still too big and uncomfortable to wear for some people. There are problems regarding headaches and some people report feeling motion sickness after not too long. The screen resolution also needs improvement, as does the battery life.
2. Software: Right now, games are the mainly atractive software in this space. It still lacks a more robust software offering, easier to use. There is nothing you can do on VR/AR right now that you can't do on your phone or computer. 
3. Price: the cheapest offerings start from 399 US dollars, which is by no means cheap for a bulky technology with no clear use case yet that can't be achieved with more mainstream technology people are used to.

That might change sooner rather than later with cheaper and smaller hardware coming out to help on one front, while Artificial Intelligence might boost the software and lack of use cases side of the problem.
assistant