Meta has introduced a fresh generation of smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence. The company wants them to become everyday essentials worldwide.
Meta Connect highlights new products
At the Meta Connect developer conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled devices developed with Ray-Ban and Oakley. A neural wristband stood out among the announcements. It pairs with the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses and enables users to send messages through small hand gestures.
The showcase came as Meta continues to face criticism over the impact of its platforms. Campaigners highlight growing concerns about risks for children. Zuckerberg called the launch a “huge scientific breakthrough” before hundreds of attendees on the Silicon Valley campus.
What the glasses offer
The Meta Ray-Ban Display features a high-resolution color screen inside one lens. Users can hold video calls and view messages seamlessly. The device also contains a 12-megapixel camera.
Zuckerberg hopes these glasses will serve as a main entry point for Meta AI in daily life. Analysts suggest they have better prospects than the costly Metaverse project. Virtual worlds have not yet gained mass adoption.
“Unlike VR headsets, glasses are lightweight and practical,” said Mike Proulx, Research Director at Forrester. He added: “Meta still needs to convince buyers that the value justifies the price.”
Pricing and market response
Meta has not released sales data. Analysts estimate roughly two million pairs of smart glasses sold since 2023. The new Display model launches this month for $799, around £586. That figure is far above earlier Meta glasses.
Leo Gebbie of CCS Insight doubts the Display will match previous successes. “Ray-Bans performed well because they are subtle, simple, and affordable,” he said.
Zuckerberg also revealed Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses for athletes, priced at $499. A second generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses was introduced at $379.
Meta’s wider AI push
Meta is investing heavily in artificial intelligence. In July, Zuckerberg confirmed hundreds of billions of dollars will go toward new US data centers. One site is planned to be nearly the size of Manhattan.
The company is also hiring top engineers from rivals. Its ultimate goal is to create “superintelligence,” an AI system capable of outperforming humans.
Calls for stronger safeguards
On Wednesday, activists and parents protested outside Meta’s New York headquarters. They demanded stronger protections for children on the company’s platforms.
Last week, two former Meta safety researchers testified in the US Senate. They accused the company of covering up risks to children from virtual products. Jason Sattizahn and Cayce Savage said internal research on harm was blocked.
Meta denied the allegations and branded them “nonsense.”
