Meta Bets on smart Glasses as Pathway to AI Integration
Meta is pushing forward with its smart glasses initiative, positioning the technology as a key component in realizing the potential of artificial intelligence, specifically what CEO Mark Zuckerberg terms “superintelligence.” Zuckerberg believes glasses offer an ideal platform for AI integration, allowing users to remain engaged with their surroundings while together accessing AI-powered enhancements to dialog, memory, and sensory perception.
The company recently launched its new display glasses, featuring a digital display within the right lens for basic functions like notifications. Priced at $799, they will be available in stores starting September 30th and include a wristband for gesture-based control of tasks like responding to calls and texts. this launch, unveiled at Meta’s Connect conference in Menlo Park, California, represents the company’s latest effort to gain ground in the competitive AI landscape.
While Meta has been a leader in smart glass advancement, it currently lags behind companies like OpenAI and Google in the deployment of advanced AI models. To address this, Zuckerberg has initiated a recruitment drive targeting AI engineers from rival firms and pledged significant investment – tens of billions of dollars – in advanced AI chips.
Alongside the Display glasses, Meta also introduced the Oakley Vanguard, a $499 pair geared towards athletes.These glasses integrate with fitness platforms like Garmin and Strava,providing real-time training data and post-workout summaries,and boast a nine-hour battery life. An updated ray-Ban line,lacking a built-in display but offering improved battery life and camera quality,is available for $379,a price increase from the previous generation’s $299.
Analysts anticipate modest initial sales for the Display glasses, but view them as a stepping stone towards meta’s planned 2027 release of the “Orion” glasses – a prototype previously described by Zuckerberg as a “time machine to the future.” Forrester analyst Mike Proulx likened the Display glasses’ debut to Apple’s initial introduction of the Apple Watch, highlighting the glasses’ convenient and unobtrusive form factor. He noted that Meta will need to demonstrate the value proposition to justify the cost, but believes notable market share is attainable.
All of Meta’s smart glass offerings include existing features such as the Meta AI assistant, cameras, hands-free control, and livestreaming capabilities to Facebook and Instagram.
The launch wasn’t without its hiccups; a live demonstration of the Display glasses experienced technical difficulties when a call failed to connect, prompting a lighthearted response from Zuckerberg and supportive cheers from the audience.
Industry analysts, like IDC’s Jitesh Ubrani, acknowledge the value of the technology within the Display glasses but emphasize the need for software improvements to appeal to a broader consumer base. IDC forecasts a 39.2% increase in worldwide shipments of augmented/virtual reality headsets and smart glasses by 2025,reaching 14.3 million units,with Meta expected to drive much of this growth through the popularity of its more affordable Ray-Ban collaboration with EssilorLuxottica.
It’s worth noting that Meta is currently facing scrutiny regarding child safety on its platforms, with recent reports detailing concerning interactions between Meta chatbots and children, and allegations that researchers were discouraged from studying the potential harms of virtual reality on young users.
