Who would have thought that your sunglasses could soon do more than just look good? Meta, the social media giant with a market value of $1.5 trillion, has big plans: As early as next year, their Ray-Ban smart glasses could be equipped with a display that shows notifications and AI responses right in front of your eyes.
The goal? Nothing less than the revolution of the wearable technology market – and a frontal attack on Apple, Google, and Co.
Ray-Ban meets high-tech
Meta is working in collaboration with the eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica to take its already successful Ray-Ban smart glasses to a new level. The current generation, equipped with cameras, microphones, and speakers, has proven that wearable technology can be lightweight, discreet, and useful. The sales figures speak for themselves: The 2023 model sold better in a few months than its predecessors did in two years.
Meta is now planning to expand this success with integrated displays. The starting signal for the new models could fall in the second half of 2025. A small screen that displays simple texts and images would be a significant step toward Meta's vision of augmented reality glasses that project digital worlds into the real world.
The Race for the Future
While Apple pushes into the market with its Vision Pro and Google with its own developments, Meta has already caused a stir with its "Orion" prototypes. These sleek AR glasses are designed to overlay 3D content into reality – a concept that previously failed due to bulky designs and weak performance. Meta has now accelerated the development of Orion after testers received the devices with enthusiasm.
But before the Orion glasses are ready for the market, there are hurdles: The innovative use of silicon carbide lenses, which ensure brilliant images, drives up production costs. Added to this are challenges with battery life and pricing. Analysts suspect that Meta would have to make compromises for a quick market launch, such as using cheaper materials.
AR, AI and the Grand Strategy
What makes Meta's approach so special? The fusion of augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The Ray-Ban smart glasses are more than just a stylish accessory - they are a testing ground for Meta's ambitious AI strategy. Mark Zuckerberg is betting on the combination of wearable devices and powerful AI assistance systems to dominate a large part of the next generation of operating systems.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta's Chief Technology Officer, calls 2025 "the most important year in the history of Reality Labs," the loss-making division responsible for AR and VR developments. With losses of 13 billion USD in the first three quarters of 2024, the pressure remains high to finally deliver a profitable product.
Why Ray-Ban Meta Has a Chance
There are reasons for optimism: The latest generation of Ray-Ban glasses has set standards not only in design but also in functionality. The sales reflect the increased consumer interest – a clear indication that the market for wearable technology is growing. Experts see the devices as a step towards societal acceptance of AR technologies, a challenge that Google Glass failed to overcome nearly a decade ago.
The combination of useful technology and Meta's omnipresent AI could be exactly what convinces consumers. And while other companies are still developing their visions, Meta has already proven that it recognizes and sets consumer trends.
