A Google logo was displayed at the announcement of the company’s biggest‑ever investment in Germany on November 11, 2025, in Berlin.
Google announced on Monday that it plans to launch its first AI‑powered eyewear in 2026, accelerating its push to challenge Meta in the rapidly expanding consumer AI‑device market.
The Alphabet subsidiary is working with Samsung, fashion‑forward eyewear brand Gentle Monster and online retailer Warby Parker on hardware design. In May, Google and Warby Parker sealed a $150 million partnership to co‑develop the glasses.
The first product will be audio‑only glasses that let users converse with Google’s Gemini AI assistant. A second variant will feature an in‑lens micro‑display capable of showing navigation cues, language translation and contextual information. Both models will run on Android XR, Google’s operating system for extended‑reality headsets.
Warby Parker confirmed in an SEC filing that the joint glasses are slated for a 2026 release, though the company did not disclose final styling or pricing details.
Google’s renewed focus follows a May 2025 statement by co‑founder Sergey Brin, who acknowledged earlier missteps with Google Glass—primarily limited AI capability and a costly supply chain. “AI today can deliver assistance without constant distraction, raising the value proposition dramatically,” Brin said.
The AI wearables sector is heating up. Meta’s Ray‑Ban Meta glasses have gained traction, leveraging Meta’s AI assistant and a partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. Meta also unveiled display glasses that project messages, photos and live captions onto a small lens‑mounted screen.
Snap and Alibaba have entered the space as well, each launching their own AI‑enhanced smart glasses aimed at niche markets such as social content creation and e‑commerce integration.
In parallel, Google disclosed software upgrades for the Galaxy XR headset, adding Windows PC connectivity and a travel mode designed for use on planes and in vehicles.
Analysts see Google’s entry as a strategic bid to capture a share of the projected $30 billion AI‑wearables market by 2030. By leveraging its AI leadership, extensive supply‑chain network and partnerships with established eyewear brands, Google could achieve economies of scale that its rivals lack. However, pricing will be critical; competitors have faced consumer pushback over premium price points. Success will also depend on seamless integration of Gemini’s conversational capabilities with the glasses’ hardware, as user experience will determine adoption rates in both consumer and enterprise segments.
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