Tech giant Meta debuts eyewear equipped with an integrated screen, aiming toward the pursuit of 'superintelligence'
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has made a significant stride in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of its first consumer-ready smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The announcement was made at Meta's annual Connect conference for developers on Wednesday.
The Ray-Ban Display, priced at $799 in the USA, features a custom display module embedded in a classic frame. It offers a range of functionalities including video calls, navigation, camera control, music control, and integration with fitness platforms such as Garmin and Strava to deliver real-time training stats and post-workout summaries.
Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, considers the Meta Ray-Ban Display to be great value for the tech you're getting. Forrester analyst Mike Proulx compares the Meta Ray-Ban Display to Apple's introduction of a watch as an alternative to the smartphone.
The updated Ray-Ban line without a built-in display, also unveiled, offers almost twice the battery life of the earlier generation and a better camera. Its price is $379, higher than the previous generation's $299 price.
Meta trails rivals such as OpenAI and Alphabet's Google in rolling out advanced AI models. However, the company is hoping to catch up in the high-stakes AI race with the launch of the Ray-Ban Display. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, described the smart glasses as the perfect way for humans to reach for the AI promise of 'superintelligence.'
The Meta Ray-Ban Display has a small digital display in the right lens for basic tasks such as notifications. The included wristband translates hand gestures into commands such as responding to texts and calls.
Zuckerberg's demos of the new Display glasses did not always go as planned, with a call to the glasses failing to go through. Despite this, the company is confident about the potential of the Ray-Ban Display and its ability to extend the momentum of its Ray-Ban line, one of the early consumer hits of the artificial intelligence era.
The Meta Ray-Ban Display will start at $799 and be available on September 30 in stores. Additionally, Meta also unveiled a new pair of Oakley-branded glasses called Vanguard, priced at $499, aimed at athletes.
IDC forecasts worldwide shipments of augmented reality/virtual reality headsets and display-less smart glasses will increase by 39.2% in 2025 to 14.3 million units. This growth is expected to be driven by demand for the cheaper Ray-Bans Meta makes with Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica.
In conclusion, the Meta Ray-Ban Display marks a significant step forward for Meta in the AI race. With its range of functionalities, long battery life, and integrated display, it offers a compelling product for consumers. However, the software of the Meta Ray-Ban Display needs to catch up to meet the expectations of average consumers.
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