Meta just expanded its smart glasses lineup at Connect, headlined by the camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio and the upgraded Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3. The 43-gram Audio frame lasts 12 hours on a charge and starts at $349, while Gen 3 brings 3K video with a 12 MP camera for $449. Meta also introduced designer collabs and an entry-level style starting at $249.
Meta just partnered with EssilorLuxottica to launch Meta Glasses, a sleek new $299 smart eyewear lineup. Powered on day one by Meta's new Muse Spark multimodal model, the glasses deliver hands-free photo and video capture, 8-hour battery life, and live translation across 14 languages. Meta is betting that high fashion is the fastest way to put ambient AI right in front of your eyes.
Meta is facing backlash after an investigation revealed outsourced workers in Kenya reviewed sensitive videos—including footage of people undressing and having sex—captured by Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office just announced it is questioning the tech giant over privacy compliance. Why it matters: users think their smart glasses are private, but their raw footage is quietly training someone else's AI model.
Subcontractors at Meta partner Sama in Nairobi are manually reviewing intimate video clips from Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, according to a joint investigation by Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten. Workers reported seeing bank cards, nudity, and bedroom scenes recorded without wearers realizing. While retailers claimed data stays local, network tests confirmed the glasses constantly transmit data to Meta's servers for AI processing.
Meta just unveiled the Oakley Meta Vanguard, a rugged pair of AI performance glasses built for runners, cyclists, and high-intensity workouts. Priced at $499, the frames pack an IP67 rating, 3K action video capture, and hands-free voice integrations with Garmin and Strava to check your stats mid-stride.
Meta is reportedly preparing to reveal its new Hypernova smart glasses in September, lowering the starting price from $1,000 to $800. The device features a screen on one lens for apps and alerts, paired with wrist controls and a voice AI query tool. It marks Meta's clearest attempt yet at creating hardware that could eventually challenge the smartphone.
Meta just acquired a $3.5 billion stake in EssilorLuxottica, the luxury eyewear maker behind its smart glasses. The roughly 3% stake could rise to 5% over time as Meta prepares to launch smart glasses under the Oakley brand. It is a massive financial bet on Mark Zuckerberg's belief that smart glasses will eventually overtake smartphones.
Meta just teamed up with Oakley to launch Oakley Meta HSTN, a rugged pair of performance AI glasses built for athletes. The frames pack a 3K camera, IPX4 water resistance, and Meta AI voice controls with up to 8 hours of battery life. Preorders open July 11 starting at $399.
Meta just teased a new collaboration with Oakley, launching an Instagram page that points to a June 20 reveal. The upcoming AI smart glasses are reportedly built for athletes, using a lightweight frame based on Oakley's Sphaera style with a single camera to cut weight. Why it matters: Meta is pushing into fitness tracking before its full AR glasses arrive in a few years.
Meta just rolled out firmware v11 for Ray-Ban Meta glasses to early access users in the US and Canada, adding real-time AI video and continuous voice chat. Wearers can now ask questions about whatever is in front of them without repeating wake words, alongside live translation for Spanish, French, and Italian. Why it matters: It beats Google to getting multimodal live vision onto consumers' faces.
Meta just extended its partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica to develop smart glasses into the next decade. The duo has already produced two generations of Ray-Ban smart frames since teaming up in 2019. Mark Zuckerberg is betting that stylish frames are the secret sauce to turning face-worn wearables into the next major tech platform.
Meta just expanded its Ray-Ban smart glasses line with new frames and rolled out multimodal AI to all users across the US and Canada. The glasses can now answer questions about your surroundings and share your first-person view during WhatsApp or Messenger video calls. Why it matters: Wearable AI is officially moving from basic audio prompts to real-time vision.
Meta just unveiled its next-gen Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses starting at $299, packing upgraded open-ear audio, a 12 MP camera, and direct livestreaming to Instagram and Facebook. The biggest jump is hands-free Meta AI integration on the go, though the assistant features will only launch in beta in the US.
