Within a relatively short span of time, smart glasses have gone from a controversial concept to a hot-ticket commodity.
Many will recall that back in 2014 when Google launched its first iteration of smart specs called Google Glass, most reviewers found that it was bulky and unintuitive. This led to the product flopping and ultimately being discontinued despite a later introduction of its Enterprise Edition 2. Similarly, in 2016, Snapchat’s Spectacles found initial success, with the company’s CEO even boasting that their first-year sales trumped the 143,000 iPod units that Apple sold when it first hit the market. Soon enough, though, due to its limitations, it was deemed an interesting but unnecessary luxury.
Fast forward to 2024, and smart glasses are an expensive but more widely accepted investment. In fact, Markets and Markets estimates that this sector is now worth almost $6 billion. Until 2029, this is expected to grow even larger, with a CAGR of about 9.8%. So, what’s helping smart glasses achieve this mainstream success and future profitability? Artificial intelligence (AI).
What AI Is Doing for Smart Glasses
Across the board, tech insiders agree that AI is fast becoming smart glasses’ best resource because of its ability to adapt to consumer demands. Unlike other smart devices that are still beholden to operating system limitations and pre-sets, AI-powered devices can learn and adjust on the fly. In this age where most consumers are embracing digitalization for convenience, the benefits of having accessible AI via wearables are thus more appealing.
Furthermore, AI helps remove unfamiliarity from smart glasses. This innovation is designed to take in information from your surroundings and then present you with relevant answers and solutions, making using smart glasses more user-friendly and practical. Consequently, this also broadens the demographic of those who can best enjoy these products. Besides tech heads who are more than happy to try on the latest wearables, AI can make smart glasses a valuable resource, even for the young and elderly. For instance, youths can use them to find directions when lost. Meanwhile, older adults can use the same generative AI to make hands-free calls to a carer or their healthcare practitioners. All in all, AI has unlocked the secret to making smart glasses more engaging for virtually everyone.
The Leaders in AI-Powered Smart Glasses
Among the many tech and retail companies joining the AI smart glasses bandwagon, a number have emerged as industry leaders actively shaping this landscape. Arguably, two of the most prominent creators of these AI wearables today are Meta and Ray-Ban, who have been collaborating on their smart glasses since 2021.
Currently, the partnership is frontloading its latest iteration of the glasses, which feature AI-enhanced technology. On trusted retail platforms like Glasses.com, these glasses are inarguably the most tech-savvy products. Aside from offering vision correction, they can be used to make calls, live stream and capture content, and listen to music or other audio resources. Users can also receive real-time answers regarding their surroundings with just a simple “Hey, Meta” prompt. As these glasses are widely available, they’re much more accessible and usable for the average consumer.
Qualcomm is another entity responsible for setting the course of AI and smart glasses. Presently, the company is credited with designing the chips that have made running AI applications directly on devices like smartphones and PCs a reality. Just this September, the company announced that it’d be working alongside tech titans Google and Samsung to create mixed-reality smart glasses. Allegedly meant to act as companion glasses for smartphones, these products will also integrate augmented and virtual reality for added immersion. This initiative is expected to help smart glasses become as widely used as smartphones. Although not yet currently available, this collaboration is expected to be formally announced within the year.
