Highlights:
- Meta introduces new smart glasses in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley.
- Devices feature AI integration, high-resolution displays, and gesture-controlled functions.
- Meta continues major investments in AI infrastructure and technology development.
- Company faces ongoing scrutiny over product impact on children.
Meta Introduces New AI Smart Glasses
Meta has unveiled a new range of AI-powered smart glasses, expanding its push for wearable devices that integrate artificial intelligence into daily life. The announcement came during the company’s annual developers conference, Meta Connect, held at its Silicon Valley campus on Wednesday.
The new line of smart accessories includes the Meta Ray-Ban Display, which features a full-color high-resolution lens screen for video calls and message notifications, along with a 12-megapixel camera. In addition, Meta introduced a neural wristband designed to work with the glasses, allowing users to send messages and perform other tasks using small hand gestures.
Meta also revealed the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, aimed at sports enthusiasts, priced at $499, and the second generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses at $379. The Display model will be available this month for $799, representing a higher price point than previous smart glasses models.
Market and Analyst Perspectives
Analysts suggest smart glasses may have broader consumer appeal than Meta’s multibillion-dollar Metaverse project, which focuses on virtual worlds. "Unlike VR headsets, glasses are an everyday, non-cumbersome form factor," said Mike Proulx, VP and Research Director at Forrester. He added that Meta will need to convince users that the benefits justify the cost.
Since entering the market in 2023, Meta is estimated to have sold around two million pairs of smart glasses, though the company does not publicly share sales figures. Experts note that Ray-Ban models have performed well due to their ease of use and relative affordability, but it remains uncertain whether higher-end models like the Display will gain traction.
Meta’s AI Investments
Meta continues to invest heavily in AI, with plans to build multiple large-scale AI data centers in the U.S., including one site nearly the size of Manhattan. The company is also hiring top talent from competitors as part of its AI expansion, aiming to develop technology it calls "superintelligence," which it says could outperform human cognitive abilities.
Scrutiny Over Child Safety
The product launch coincided with ongoing scrutiny over Meta’s impact on children. On Wednesday, activists and family members of suicide victims protested outside Meta’s New York headquarters, calling for stronger safeguards on social media platforms. Last week, two former Meta safety researchers testified before the U.S. Senate, alleging the company covered up potential harms to children from its virtual reality products. Meta denied the claims.
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