Meta Unveils AI-Powered Smart Glasses with Full-Colour Screen and 12-Megapixel Camera.

Facebook's parent company, Meta, has unveiled new AI-powered smart glasses called Meta Ray-Ban Display. The glasses feature a full-color high-resolution screen, 12-megapixel camera, and video call capabilities. Analysts believe smart glasses may be more successful than Meta's Metaverse project, but the company needs to convince people of the benefits and cost. The Display model will be available this month for $799. Meta is investing heavily in AI infrastructure and talent to develop "superintelligence" technology.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has made a significant announcement in the realm of augmented reality (AR) technology. The company has unveiled its latest innovation, the Meta Ray-Ban Display, a pair of AI-powered smart glasses that promise to revolutionize the way people interact with technology. The glasses are set to be available this month for a starting price of $799.

The Meta Ray-Ban Display features a full-color high-resolution screen, a 12-megapixel camera, and video call capabilities. The device is designed to overlay digital visuals onto the wearer's view of the real world, much like Google Glass or a smartwatch for your eye. This includes functionalities such as turn-by-turn directions, incoming messages, and prompts from an AI assistant, all displayed directly in the wearer's field of vision.

One of the standout features of the Meta Ray-Ban Display is its integration with Meta's neural EMG wristband controller. This wristband allows users to control the glasses' interface via subtle hand gestures, reading muscle signals rather than relying on touch or voice commands. This innovative approach not only provides a more discreet and intuitive control method but also differentiates Meta's product from competitors like Apple's Vision Pro, which uses outward cameras to track hand motions.

The Ray-Ban Display is the latest iteration in Meta's collaboration with Ray-Ban (EssilorLuxottica), which has a history of producing stylish smart eyewear. The partnership has proven successful, with the second-gen Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses selling over 2 million units in 2023. The new model, internally codenamed "Hypernova," aims to build on this success by adding true AR capabilities while retaining the fashionable design of the Ray-Ban brand.

Meta's strategy with the Ray-Ban Display and the Oakley "Sphaera" prototype, which features a centered camera for sports use, underscores its commitment to serving both mainstream and niche use-cases. The company is positioning itself to stay ahead of the competitive landscape, which includes players like Apple, Snap, and Google, all of whom are investing heavily in smart glasses and XR technologies.

The unveiling of the Meta Ray-Ban Display comes at a time when analysts believe smart glasses may be more successful than Meta's Metaverse project. However, the company faces the challenge of convincing consumers of the benefits and cost-effectiveness of the new technology. The $799 price point for the Display model is a significant reduction from earlier plans, which were estimated to be around $1,300. This price adjustment is likely an attempt to boost adoption and make the technology more accessible to a broader audience.

Meta's investment in AI infrastructure and talent to develop "superintelligence" technology is also notable. The company is positioning itself to lead in the AI-powered wearables market, with a focus on creating devices that can understand and respond to human needs in real-time.

As Meta Connect 2025 approaches, the tech community is both excited and cautious about the potential of smart glasses. While some analysts predict that the success of the Ray-Ban Display will depend on its ability to provide compelling use-cases and a reasonable price point, others are concerned about the privacy implications of always-on cameras and potential face-recognition features.

Overall, the Meta Ray-Ban Display represents a significant step forward in the evolution of AR technology. The device's combination of style, functionality, and innovative control methods positions it as a strong contender in the growing smart glasses market. As the technology continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how Meta's strategy and pricing affect consumer adoption and the broader competitive landscape.