Smart glasses are back in the spotlight, with tech giants like Google, Snap, Meta, and Amazon investing heavily in AI-powered wearables. The latest example is Snap’s upcoming “Specs” glasses, set to release in 2026.
The renewed buzz around smart glasses stems from a combination of factors, including the limitations of smartphones and the growing appeal of artificial intelligence (AI). Emerging AI models can process images, video, and speech simultaneously, answer complex requests, and respond conversationally. This technology has the potential to make smart glasses far more useful than their predecessors.
While Google Glass failed to gain traction over a decade ago, some analysts believe that advancements in AI have finally caught up with the concept. The new generation of smart glasses is far more sophisticated, with features like camera-equipped designs, voice assistants, and real-time translation capabilities.
Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories, for instance, have already sold two million pairs since their 2023 debut, thanks to their user-friendly interface and practical applications. Other companies are also investing in smart glasses, with Apple reportedly working on a pair to be released next year.
However, despite the potential benefits of smart glasses, there are concerns about privacy and the need for consumers to justify yet another tech device in their lives. Tech firms will need to address these challenges if they hope to bring smart glasses mainstream success.
As one analyst noted, “Many in the industry believe that the smartphone will eventually be replaced by glasses or something similar to it.” With AI-powered wearables on the horizon, tech giants are willing to take a chance and invest in this emerging market.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/14/tech/google-meta-snap-smart-glasses-ai