MOUNTAIN VIEW, United States: Google has unveiled a new generation of smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence, marking the company’s return to a wearable technology market it unsuccessfully attempted to enter more than a decade ago.
The smart glasses were introduced during Google’s annual I/O developer conference in California, where the company showcased new “audio glasses” designed to compete directly with Meta’s increasingly popular Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Google said the devices would feature a built-in microphone, camera and small speaker, allowing users to make phone calls, listen to music, take photos and interact with the company’s Gemini AI assistant.
The company did not announce an exact launch date or pricing details but said the glasses are expected to go on sale later this year.
Two design collections were unveiled during the event — one developed with American eyewear company Warby Parker and another in partnership with South Korean fashion brand Gentle Monster.
Samsung handled the technical development of the devices, which will reportedly work with both Android and Apple smartphones.
Integrating advanced AI functions
The launch represents a major comeback attempt for Google in the smart eyewear sector following the commercial failure of Google Glass in 2013. The original product faced widespread criticism over privacy concerns because of its integrated camera and recording capabilities.
This time, Google appears to be focusing heavily on design and consumer appeal while integrating advanced AI functions into everyday wearable technology.
The new camera-equipped glasses are nevertheless expected to face renewed scrutiny over privacy and surveillance concerns, similar to criticism previously directed at Meta’s smart eyewear products.
Google also revealed that it is continuing work on another advanced smart glasses model featuring a built-in display system. The prototype version was first shown last year and has since moved further into developer testing, according to the company.
Meta currently dominates the smart glasses market through its partnership with Ray-Ban, with industry estimates suggesting sales of its AI-enabled glasses have surpassed seven million units worldwide.
