Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Unveils AI-Powered Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Claims Cognitive Advantage

At the Meta Connect conference on September 17 in Menlo Park, California, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the company's newest AI-powered wearable, the Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. These glasses feature a small display inside the lens and can display digital objects on transparent lenses, allowing users to interact with messages, photos, and other online content without constantly looking at their phone screens. The glasses, priced at $799, come with the Meta Neural Band, an EMG wristband that enables control via hand gestures. During a demo, Zuckerberg demonstrated the ability to type text messages via hand movements at 30 words per minute, change music volume, and swipe through photos. The glasses will be available in the U.S. starting September 30. Additionally, Meta announced a partnership with Disney for the Horizon metaverse and introduced new experiences for the Quest 3 VR headset, including games and a new entertainment app, Horizon TV. The Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, featuring a sportier design, were also introduced, offering up to nine hours of battery life, 3K video recording, and louder speakers. Meta aims to produce 10 million pairs of smart glasses annually by 2026, with revenue from smart glasses more than tripling year-over-year.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, stated that people without AI glasses in the future will be at a "cognitive disadvantage." Speaking about Meta's strategic direction, Zuckerberg emphasized the company's commitment to artificial intelligence, particularly through its development of smart eyewear. He explained that the integration of advanced AI features within wearable devices, such as AI glasses, will greatly enhance users' ability to access and process information in real time. Zuckerberg's comments underscore Meta's focus on creating a 'personal superintelligence' that extends beyond mobile phones, with the goal of seamlessly augmenting human capabilities. He suggested that as these technologies become widespread, those without access to such AI-powered devices could be left behind in terms of information processing and daily productivity. His remarks reinforced Meta's long-term investments in AI and wearable technology, although no specific release dates or product specifications were mentioned in the statements provided.