Tech Giants Revive Smartglasses Race with New AI-Powered Devices

Tech giants Meta, Google, and Snap are racing to develop smartglasses that integrate AI assistants into daily life. Despite initial flops, consumer adoption is growing, with 17% of online adults in the US using smartglasses. Meta plans to sell AI-powered glasses, while Snap will release more powerful augmented reality glasses in 2026. Competition from Apple, Amazon, and Samsung is expected next year.

Meta, Google, and Snap are leading the charge in the development of AI-integrated smartglasses, aiming to revolutionize daily life. Despite early setbacks, consumer adoption is on the rise, with 17% of online adults in the US now using smartglasses Meta launches first display-equipped smart glasses, pushes AI ‘superintelligence’ vision^[1]. Meta plans to release AI-powered smartglasses, while Snap is set to unveil more advanced augmented reality glasses in 2026. Competition from Apple, Amazon, and Samsung is expected to intensify next year.

Meta's latest offering, the Meta Ray-Ban Display, is a significant step forward. The smart glasses feature a small digital display embedded in the right lens, enabling basic functions such as notifications. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg described the glasses as a stepping stone towards the "superintelligence" era of AI, where technology surpasses human intelligence across all domains Meta launches first display-equipped smart glasses, pushes AI ‘superintelligence’ vision^[1]. The device will retail at $799 and be available in stores from September 30. Meta has also refreshed its Ray-Ban line without a display, offering nearly double the battery life and an improved camera, priced at $379.

Google and Snap are also making strides in the smartglasses market. Google is known for its advanced AI capabilities and has been developing its own smartglasses, although no official release date has been announced. Snap, on the other hand, is set to release more powerful augmented reality glasses in 2026, leveraging its expertise in AR technology Palantir Stock Climbs Nearly 2% In Thursday Pre-Market: What's Going On?^[2].

The competition is heating up, with Apple, Amazon, and Samsung expected to enter the market next year. Apple has been rumored to be working on its own smartglasses, codenamed "Apple Glass," which could integrate seamlessly with its ecosystem. Amazon's smartglasses are also expected to leverage its Alexa AI assistant, while Samsung has been exploring the market with its Galaxy Watch series, which could evolve into smartglasses.

The global market for AR/VR headsets and smart glasses without displays is expected to rise 39.2% in 2025, with Meta and its partnership with EssilorLuxottica fueling much of this growth Meta launches first display-equipped smart glasses, pushes AI ‘superintelligence’ vision^[1]. Despite the competition, Meta is investing heavily in AI chips and has aggressively recruited engineers to close the gap in advanced AI models Meta launches first display-equipped smart glasses, pushes AI ‘superintelligence’ vision^[1].

However, the development of smartglasses also comes with challenges. Meta faces criticism over child safety on its platforms, with reports revealing instances of chatbots engaging children in inappropriate conversations and allegations of blocked research into potential harms of virtual reality for children Meta launches first display-equipped smart glasses, pushes AI ‘superintelligence’ vision^[1]. Palantir, another tech giant, is facing competition in the defense sector from Salesforce, which recently announced its new national security division, Missionforce Palantir Stock Climbs Nearly 2% In Thursday Pre-Market: What's Going On?^[2].

In conclusion, the smartglasses market is poised for significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of AI technology and the competitive landscape. Tech giants are investing heavily to secure their positions in this emerging market, with Meta, Google, and Snap leading the charge. The coming year promises to bring more advancements and innovations in AI-powered smartglasses.