While Meta has recently updated its Ray-Ban smart glasses with new features including real-time language translation, the company has reportedly not slowed down its development of new features for its next generation of glasses and software. The Information is reporting that Meta is working on “super-sensing” vision software for new models, to be released next year. According to reports, this new software would allow for facial recognition of individuals by name, but that’s not all. The “super-sensing” technology could lets Meta’s AI remind a user if they forgot to grab an important object like a wallet or keys before leaving home, or recognize a user was walking home and remind them to complete a task while in the area.
The following was originally published April 25, 2025:
Meta is rolling out several features to its Ray-Ban smart glasses that were previously locked behind the company’s Early Access program. These include the ability to send and receive direct messages, photos, audio calls, and video calls from Instagram, as well as expanded access to a variety of music streaming platforms. More exciting, however, is the new Live Translation feature, which will allow users to hold a conversation with someone who is speaking a different language, while Meta’s AI plays an audio translation in real time via the glasses’ headphones. Meta says that no WiFi or network connection is required if users download the appropriate Language Pack in advance. In order to initiate the Live Translation feature, users simply say “Hey, Meta, start live translation.”
While Live Translation is currently rolling out to all markets, another feature on the horizon for the Ray-Ban smart glasses is the ability for users to have a conversation with the Meta AI assistant about whatever they are looking at. Meta uses the example of users being able to as the AI assistant for recommendations based on what they have in their refrigerator or pantry. This feature, confirmed so far for the US and Canada, is “coming soon,” according to the company.
The following was originally published January 2, 2025:
Meta is continuing to evolve its smart glasses strategy, with the Financial Times reporting that the company is now planning to add displays to its Ray-Ban line of glasses. Sources “familiar with Meta’s plans” claim that the company is looking to insert small displays into the line as early as this year. These small displays wouldn’t take the line into the realm of full XR like Meta’s recently-revealed Orion prototype, but would rather assist wearers by displaying notifications and prompts from an AI virtual assistant.
While Orion is still several years away from a full release, the Ray-Ban line of smart glasses has been a successful venture for Meta, who last year announced it would be engaging in a significant investment with EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban’s parent company. It seems that the company isn’t resting on its laurels, and is continuing to look for ways to add value in the increasingly competitive wearables market.
The following was originally published July 23, 2024:
Meta is apparently pleased with how its relationship with Ray-Ban is going, with the Financial Times reporting that the tech company is in talks to acquire roughly 5% EssilorLuxottica, the giant parent company of the eyewear manufacturer in what could be a multi-billion dollar deal.
LG and Meta partnership now in limbo among conflicting reports
Interest in EssilorLuxottica doesn’t end there, however, as The Verge reports that Google has begun talks with the company in an effort to integrate Google’s Gemini AI into future smart glasses. The timing of Google’s interest in the eyewear giant is speculated to be no coincidence, and may be a driving factor in Meta’s planned investment.
The following was originally published December 14, 2023:
Meta’s new generation of Ray-Ban smart glasses haven’t been out for long, and they will soon be getting what looks like a pretty substantial upgrade.
Meta has announced that the smart glasses will be getting a hefty software update that improves its functionality, allows users to query for real-time information, and integrates multimodal AI.
Mark Zuckerberg shared videos of the new capabilities of the glasses, asking the glasses’ AI assistant for contextual information that what they are looking at. In these demos, the glasses are able to give information in real-time, as well as perform tasks such as write captions about whatever the subject being viewed is or translating text.
This update could very well upgrade Meta’s smart glasses from a gimmick into the useful tool that most people think of when they picture “smart glasses.” The company has revealed that a small number of users that opt in will get access to the beta version of the new software, with a wide release being available in 2024.
The following was originally published October 3, 2023:
Meta’s next generation of Ray-Ban smart glasses have been announced, and this time they’re called just that–smart glasses. The new line was announced at the company’s Connect launch event, and feature a number of improvements over the last generation (which were called Stories).
To start, audio is improved, with Meta stating that the built-in speakers are 50% louder than last generation’s, with twice the amount of bass. The smart glasses have five built-in microphones, including one in the nose bridge, to ensure you are always heard in even noisy conditions. This is an area where the Stories faltered, as the older line’s solitary microphone couldn’t always hold up to background noise. Given that the new smart glasses give you access to voice commands, the more mics, the better. Saying “Hey Meta” queues up Meta’s “conversational assistant”, which they are calling Meta AI.
Meta’s VR/AR timeline for the next few years has been leaked
The new line features dual cameras, the same as the Stories, but the camera hardware has been bumped up considerably. Take pictures using the 12-megapixel cameras, or record video in 1080p, then seamlessly share your content using the Meta View app. The glasses come with 32G of internal storage, which the company says is enough for 500 photos and 100 30-second videos (videos are capped at 60 seconds).
Livestreaming is now possible to Facebook and Instagram as well, and all functions are accessed and controlled via an interface located on the glasses’ stem. The new glasses are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor, and Meta says one charge is good for four to six hours of use. The glasses case doubles as a battery pack, and is able to charge a pair of glasses up to eight times when full.
Available on October 17th, the Meta smart glasses are up for pre-order starting at $299, and come in Ray-Ban’s Headliner and Wayfarer frames in a variety of color options.
