Meta bets on AI-powered eyewear

September 19, 2025

The future of technology, according to Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, is not in smartphones but in glasses. At its annual developers’ conference, Meta Connect, held on September 17, the company unveiled a fresh lineup of smart eyewear infused with artificial intelligence, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley. Zuckerberg presented the devices as the next leap in computing, claiming those who do not adopt AI-enabled eyewear will soon face a “significant cognitive disadvantage.”

In his words, glasses are the “ideal form factor for personal super intelligence,” offering assistance while keeping users connected to the real world. The flagship announcement was the Meta Ray-Ban Display, internally codenamed Hypernova. At first glance, they resemble ordinary Ray-Ban sunglasses, but the lenses conceal a high-resolution, full-color display. Users can read WhatsApp messages, watch Instagram reels, take video calls, or follow maps directly on the lens. Real-time live captioning and translation add another layer of utility, while the integrated Meta AI assistant provides both visual and audio responses.

The eyewear is paired with the Meta Neural Band, an electromyography-based wristband that translates hand gestures into commands. Simple finger taps, swipes, and pinches allow users to control navigation, volume, or even summon the AI chatbot. A charging case doubles as a power bank, giving up to 30 hours of backup on top of the glasses’ six-hour battery life.

The device is priced at \$799 in the United States, with availability slated for September. Indian buyers will need to wait until 2026, with prices expected around Rs 67,000. For athletes, Meta introduced the Oakley Meta Vanguard, priced at \$499. Built for high-intensity sports like cycling and climbing, these glasses are designed to resist sun, dust, and wind. They include a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, nine hours of battery life, larger speakers, and integration with Strava and Garmin for workout tracking.

The company also refreshed its original model with the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2), priced at \$379. The updated version offers double the battery life of the earlier model and a more powerful 3K Ultra HD video camera, catering to everyday use such as taking photos, making calls, or chatting with Meta AI. Meta has sold an estimated two million pairs of smart glasses since entering the market in 2023.

While analysts caution that profitability is still a long way off, Zuckerberg views the products as a strategic move to reduce dependence on smartphones and establish a foothold in the wearables market. Whether these AI-powered glasses will redefine personal technology remains uncertain. For now, Meta is betting heavily that the next frontier of computing will be worn on the face.