Artificial Intelligence Through the Glasses of the Future: Meta presented its vision for a future where AI glasses accompany users throughout the day, enabling access to information, communication, and intuitive control. Alongside the promises, the company also revealed price tags, potential advantages, and drawbacks, positioning the products as innovative yet still relatively marginal for everyday public use.
At the conference held in Menlo Park, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the new wearable AI products.
The centerpiece was the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, equipped with a high-resolution color display that shows messages, navigation, or video directly on the lens. The glasses weigh 69 grams, feature photochromic lenses, a full-day battery, and a charging case for an additional 30 hours of use. The innovation is the ability to use them outdoors under direct sunlight. The price: $799, including the Neural Band bracelet, which allows control through subtle hand movements detecting electrical signals from the muscles. The advantage is a natural user experience without the need for a phone, but potential drawbacks relate to weight, prolonged comfort, and open questions regarding the privacy of data collected by the glasses.
Simultaneously, the second generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses was presented, offering longer battery life of up to eight hours, 3K video recording, and an audio tool called Conversation Focus that allows holding conversations even in noisy environments. The glasses are available for immediate purchase starting at $379. Zuckerberg did not explain why we truly need these glasses, leaving a persistent impression that they are a luxury novelty most of us could do without.
Also introduced were the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, designed for athletes. The model includes a 12-megapixel camera for 3K video recording, Oakley PRIZM lenses, up to nine hours of battery life, and water and dust resistance. Integration with Garmin and Strava allows real-time tracking of heart rate and performance, along with automatic photo capture at peak activity moments. They will launch in the U.S. on October 21 at a price of $499. The advantages include suitability for intense physical activity and use as a smartwatch alternative, but here too, limitations may include comfort, weight, and the actual need for a built-in camera during exercise.
Beyond hardware, Meta unveiled new tools for creating virtual reality worlds under the names Horizon Studio and Horizon Engine, offering advanced graphics capabilities, multiplayer experiences, and developer tools for expanding applications. The company also announced the $50 million Horizon Creators Fund and a competition with prizes totaling $2.5 million. These innovations may expand the VR market but will remain primarily limited to content creators and gamers at this stage.
In summary, Meta offers a product line attempting to integrate artificial intelligence into daily wear, from bracelets to sports glasses. The advantages are most notable in accessibility, user experience, and athletic activity, while potential drawbacks include high cost, privacy concerns, and questions about the necessity of such products in everyday life.