Meta Unveils AI-Powered Smart Glasses and Neural Wristband at Developer Conference
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has unveiled a new line of AI-driven smart glasses, strengthening its push to make wearable technology a key part of everyday life.
At its annual Meta Connect conference held in Silicon Valley, CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced a series of products developed in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley. The flagship device, the Meta Ray-Ban Display, features a high-resolution, full-colour screen embedded in one lens, allowing users to make video calls, view messages, and interact with apps. It also includes a 12-megapixel camera for capturing photos and videos.
In addition to the glasses, Meta debuted a neural wristband designed to work alongside the Ray-Ban Display. The wristband enables users to perform actions such as sending messages using subtle hand gestures, eliminating the need to physically touch their device. Zuckerberg described the technology as a “huge scientific breakthrough.”
The Ray-Ban Display will launch later this month at $799 (£586), positioning it as a premium product. Meta also introduced the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses for sports enthusiasts, priced at $499, and the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which will retail at $379.
Meta has sold an estimated two million pairs of smart glasses since entering the market in 2023, though analysts caution that convincing mainstream consumers remains a challenge.
“Unlike VR headsets, glasses are lightweight and easier to integrate into daily life,” said Mike Proulx, VP and Research Director at Forrester. “But Meta still has to prove that the benefits of AI glasses justify the price tag.”
Industry experts like Leo Gebbie of CCS Insight remain sceptical about the new high-end model’s success. “The earlier Ray-Bans did well because they were simple, discreet, and relatively affordable,” he noted.
The launch comes as Meta faces intense scrutiny over child safety on its platforms. On the same day as the event, activists and parents of suicide victims staged a protest outside Meta’s New York headquarters, calling for stronger protections for children online. This follows testimony last week from two former Meta safety researchers who alleged the company suppressed internal research about the potential harms of its virtual reality products to young users — allegations Meta has dismissed as “nonsense.”
Meanwhile, Meta is investing hundreds of billions of dollars into building massive AI data centres across the United States, one of which will reportedly span an area nearly the size of Manhattan. These investments are part of Zuckerberg’s ambition to develop “superintelligence,” an advanced form of AI capable of out-thinking humans.
With the introduction of these new devices, Meta is betting big on AI-powered wearables to succeed where its Metaverse project struggled, aiming to position smart glasses as the next must-have tech accessory.
