Google Enters Smart Glasses Race

Google is set to launch its first AI-powered smart glasses in 2026, directly competing with Meta and Apple in the burgeoning market of wearable tech. The company plans to release two distinct models: AI glasses designed for screen-free assistance and display AI glasses that incorporate an in-lens display for real-time information.

The screen-free assistance glasses will feature built-in speakers, microphones, and cameras, enabling users to interact with Gemini AI, capture photos, and receive contextual help without needing a display. The display AI glasses will add an in-lens display to privately show helpful information, such as turn-by-turn navigation or live translation captions. Google is collaborating with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker to create lightweight and stylish designs suitable for all-day wear. These glasses will run on Android XR, Google's platform for wearables.

Google's entry into the smart glasses arena signifies a renewed push into augmented reality, leveraging AI integration and strategic partnerships to make smart eyewear more accessible. The new glasses aim to seamlessly integrate into daily life, offering hands-free AI assistance for tasks like memory recall, language translation and providing contextual information about the user's surroundings.