Google has confirmed that its first AI glasses will be launched in 2026.
The tech giant announced the news through a online updateEarlier revealed at its I/O developer event in may It was working with Samsung and partners Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create cutting-edge wearables.
Two different types of smart glasses are being developed on top of the Android XR operating system, the first of which focuses more on audio.
“The AI ​​glasses are designed for screen-free assistance, using the built-in speaker, microphone, and camera to let you naturally chat with Gemini, take photos, and get help,” the company said in its update.
The second type, Display AI glasses, layers information onto the lenses that may be useful to the wearer. “[These]add an in-lens display that privately shows you useful information when you need it, like turn-by-turn navigation or translated captions,” Google said in its blog post.
No specific timeline was offered for the launch other than a commitment that it would occur next year, which was supported by by a filing From Warby Parker to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The glasses work by connecting wirelessly to a smartphone, which processes the requests. Google’s demo video shows how the glasses or “audio” glasses can ask the wearer questions about their surroundings, with Gemini answering the questions.
Another example shows how more advanced display glasses will be able to provide live translation captions in direct line of sight when, for example, a foreign language is spoken.
The videos also show that the glasses themselves look traditional and are unlikely to disappoint potential customers like the original, ahead-of-its-time Google Glass.
Google also provided information on what’s to come at a preview event in New York City to which select media were invited, and initial reviews were largely positive.
No price has been revealed for the glasses, but they will compete with Meta ray benRay-Ban displays and Oakley offerings, which use the tech giant’s AI digital assistant and have sold well. The growing importance of the AI ​​wearables market to Meta was highlighted earlier this week Acquired for an undisclosed undisclosed amountCreator of an AI pendant that automatically records and transcribes conversations.
