Meta has unveiled a new generation of smart glasses powered by its artificial intelligence (AI) technology, in what chief executive Mark Zuckerberg described as a “huge scientific breakthrough.”
The launch, made at the company’s annual developer conference Meta Connect, underscores the Facebook owner’s push to make wearable technology a mainstream part of everyday life.
New Devices with Ray-Ban and Oakley
The new range includes the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban, which feature a high-resolution colour screen built into one lens. The glasses can be used for video calls, displaying messages, and taking photos with a 12-megapixel camera.
Meta also introduced a neural wristband designed to work alongside the Display glasses, allowing users to send messages or control functions with small hand gestures.
Two additional models were announced: the $499 (£366) Oakley Meta Vanguard, aimed at sports enthusiasts, and the second generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, priced at $379 (£278).
The flagship Ray-Ban Display, which goes on sale this month for $799 (£586), costs significantly more than Meta’s earlier smart glasses.
Launch Hiccups
Zuckerberg demonstrated the new products live on stage at Meta’s Silicon Valley headquarters but ran into technical issues when attempting to receive a WhatsApp call through the glasses.
“I don’t know what to tell you guys,” he admitted to laughter from the audience. “I keep on messing this up.”
Despite the glitch, Meta is betting that smart glasses will become a key platform for embedding its AI assistant, Meta AI, into users’ daily routines.
Analysts Weigh In
Industry observers say glasses may have more potential than Meta’s multibillion-dollar bet on virtual reality and the Metaverse, which has so far struggled to gain widespread adoption.
“Unlike VR headsets, glasses are an everyday, non-cumbersome form factor,” said Mike Proulx, vice-president at research firm Forrester. “But the onus is on Meta to convince the vast majority of people who don’t own AI glasses that the benefits outweigh the cost.”
Leo Gebbie, an analyst at CCS Insight, expressed scepticism about the higher-priced Display model: “The Ray-Bans have done well because they’re easy to use, inconspicuous and relatively affordable. I’m less convinced that this new version will attract the same kind of uptake.”
Meta does not release official sales figures, but analysts estimate the company has sold around two million pairs of smart glasses since entering the market in 2023.
Heavy Investment in AI
The product launch comes amid Meta’s enormous spending drive to expand its AI capabilities. The company has committed hundreds of billions of dollars to build new US-based data centres, including one site expected to cover an area nearly the size of Manhattan.
Meta is also competing aggressively with rivals such as Google, OpenAI and Microsoft to recruit top AI researchers, with Zuckerberg pledging to build “superintelligence” capable of out-thinking humans.
Ongoing Scrutiny
The event took place against the backdrop of mounting criticism of Meta’s social media platforms and their impact on children.
On Wednesday, activists and families of young suicide victims protested outside Meta’s New York headquarters, demanding stricter safeguards.
Last week, two former Meta safety researchers told the US Senate that the company had downplayed internal findings about potential harms to children from its virtual reality products.
Jason Sattizahn and Cayce Savage alleged that Meta discouraged research that might highlight risks. The company has rejected the claims, describing them as “nonsense.”
Outlook
Meta hopes its new smart glasses can succeed where previous wearable devices have faltered, offering a practical way to integrate AI into everyday life. But with high price tags, technical hurdles and ongoing public scrutiny, the challenge will be convincing consumers that they are more than a niche gadget.
