Meta has taken a big leap forward in wearable technology with its latest updates to the Ray-Ban smart glasses. During its annual Connect conference, the company introduced a series of new AI features and a limited-edition translucent Ray-Ban style that make the glasses more intelligent and versatile. These changes aim to enhance user experience and bridge the gap between tech and fashion.
The highlight of the update is a new feature called “Reminders”, which allows the glasses to snap a photo of what you’re looking at and notify you about it later on your phone. This functionality is particularly handy for tracking grocery lists or remembering important visual details you encounter throughout the day. In addition, the glasses can now scan QR codes and dial phone numbers you look at directly from the lenses, adding more layers of convenience.
Language translation is also receiving a major upgrade. While the Meta Ray-Bans previously offered translations from still images, Meta is now working on a real-time language translation feature. This upcoming functionality will translate conversations in English, French, Italian, and Spanish as you hear them, playing the translated speech back through speakers embedded in the glasses.
In testing these new features, the glasses were impressively responsive and accurate, handling follow-up questions seamlessly. The AI felt more conversational, making interactions with the smart glasses more natural. Despite the enhancements, some gaps remain: there’s still no timer function, which is expected to be added in future updates.
Alongside the software updates, Meta is releasing new hardware options. The collaboration with Ray-Ban’s parent company, EssilorLuxottica, has produced a range of new transition lenses and a limited-edition translucent frame that reveals all the internal tech. This transparent style harkens back to retro designs like the Game Boy Color, offering tech enthusiasts a nostalgic yet modern option. With only 7,500 units available, these limited-edition frames are sure to be a collector’s item.
Sales for the Ray-Ban smart glasses have been promising, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. While exact figures haven’t been disclosed, Zuckerberg mentioned that sales have exceeded expectations, prompting EssilorLuxottica to boost production. An estimate from IDC suggests that over 700,000 units have been shipped, with orders more than doubling from the first to the second quarter of 2024. This momentum indicates growing consumer interest in AI-integrated eyewear.
Despite a challenging market for AI-powered devices, Meta is positioning its Ray-Ban smart glasses as a practical tool rather than a novelty. “Meta AI is becoming a more and more prominent feature of the glasses, and there’s more stuff that you can do,” said Zuckerberg in an interview. “It’s not like we’re going to throw away our phones, but I think what’s going to happen is that, slowly, we’re just going to start doing more things with our glasses and leaving our phones in our pockets more.”
With continuous updates and hardware innovations, Meta is determined to redefine how we interact with AI technology. Whether this will fundamentally change the way we use smart glasses remains to be seen, but the latest developments certainly push the boundary of what these devices can achieve.
