Meta Platforms (META.O) on Wednesday unveiled its first consumer smart glasses with a built-in display, a move to strengthen its line of Ray-Ban glasses, one of the first successful products of the AI era.
At the company’s annual Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses and a new controller wristband, receiving applause despite some glitches during the live demo. Zuckerberg, who has previously spoken about the success of Meta’s smart glasses, called them the best way for people to reach AI’s promise of “superintelligence”. “Glasses are the ideal form factor for personal superintelligence, because they let you stay present in the moment while getting access to AI capabilities that make you smarter, help you communicate better, improve your memory, enhance your senses and more,” he said. The new glasses have a small digital display in the right lens that handles basic tasks such as showing notifications.
The product is priced at USD 799 and will be in stores from 30 September. A gesture wristband is included in the box, translating hand movements into commands such as replying to messages and calls.
The AI race
The launch at Meta’s annual developer conference at its Menlo Park headquarters is the company’s latest attempt to catch up in the high-stakes AI race. Although the social media giant has pioneered smart glasses, it has lagged rivals such as OpenAI and Google in releasing advanced AI models. Zuckerberg has launched a talent war in Silicon Valley and pledged to invest tens of billions of dollars in advanced AI chips. Meanwhile, Meta faces growing pressure over child safety on its social platforms.
Reuters reported in August that Meta’s chatbots had engaged children in provocative conversations on sexual and racial topics, and whistleblowers recently said researchers had been told not to study the harmful effects of virtual reality on children.
Oakley sports glasses
On Wednesday Meta also unveiled a new Oakley-branded model for athletes, the Vanguard, priced at USD 499. It integrates with sports platforms such as Garmin and Strava, providing real-time workout stats and post-exercise reports. Its battery lasts up to 9 hours, and it goes on sale on 21 October.
Ray-Ban line update
Meta also updated its previous generation of Ray-Ban glasses without a built-in display. The new version has almost twice the battery life of its predecessor and a better camera. It costs USD 379, up from USD 299 for the previous generation.
