Ray-Ban’s Meta smart glasses highlight AI’s potential in eyewear
The release of new smart glasses by Ray-Ban and Meta has demonstrated the capacity of artificial intelligence (AI) to redefine conventional industries, offering users a blend of style and cutting-edge technology. For small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, 43% of whom, according to a report from the Data & Marketing Association, do not plan to innovate with AI in the next year, this should serve as inspiration to leverage AI, especially since it has the potential to enhance product offerings, customer experiences, and overall competitiveness in the market.
As AI continues to permeate various sectors, let’s examine this technology’s potential in eyewear with an in-depth look at Ray-Ban’s smart glasses.
Ray-Ban and Meta, companies at the forefront of AI tech
Since the company’s rebranding in 2021, Meta has shifted much of its focus to maximising AI, using it for generative advertising, chatbots, image generation, natural language generation, and building its metaverse, Horizons, an immersive virtual reality (VR) platform. Aside from the smart glasses, they’ve also made other wearable devices like the Quest VR headset, which is now on its third iteration, showcasing their ongoing commitment to advancing AI in various applications.
This isn’t Ray-Ban’s first foray into wearable technology, either. In 2021, a predecessor of the smart glasses, called Ray-Ban Stories, was launched. Although that earlier version was met with lukewarm reception, Ray-Ban quickly learned from its mistakes, hence the decision to link up with Meta.
A look at the smart glasses’ features
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses officially come in 150 style variations across two frame styles, seven colours, and multiple lens options, including tint, prescription, and transitions. Meta touts that the new smart glasses improve on “all the core features of the first generation while adding new capabilities that have never been seen on a pair of smart glasses”. Some improvements include enhanced audio, an ultrawide 12MP camera similar to the iPhone 14, and a 36-hour battery life with the charging case, addressing significant criticisms about the first generation of glasses.
Many of the smart glasses’ new functionalities are geared toward content creation. In a preview session with The Standard, Meta highlighted that the smart glasses make streaming easier. After downloading the Meta app, all the content you capture will be available in-app via Bluetooth. A touchpad is also integrated along the arm of the glasses to control volume, pause and play, plus a button for taking photos and recording videos.
In terms of privacy, the smart glasses contain an LED light on the right arm that lights up whenever you’re recording and flashes when taking a picture. Most intriguingly, the glasses also respond to basic voice commands. By saying “Hey Meta”, you can tell the glasses to play music, stop streaming, take a picture, and send photos or videos to a friend.
Chief Wearables Officer for Ray-Ban’s parent company EssilorLuxottica, Rocco Basilico, said in a statement: “The world sees you in a pair of your favourite Wayfarer, perhaps with your own prescription and transition lenses that go from day to night, but you know you have this powerful universe of tech inside. Meta AI, live streaming, and insanely crisp audio and calling capabilities – all hands-free”.
As Ray-Ban and Meta join forces to introduce these novel smart glasses, the fusion of fashion and AI is poised to reshape the eyewear landscape. This collaboration showcases a commitment to innovation and hints at a future where our accessories flawlessly integrate with the digital world. As users embrace these stylish and tech-savvy glasses, it marks a noteworthy chapter in the ongoing narrative of how AI continues to elevate our everyday experiences.
