Hey everyone, let’s talk about the future—or at least, Meta’s version of it. Mark Zuckerberg just took the stage at the Meta Connect conference and unveiled their latest attempt to make smart glasses a thing we all actually want to wear.
Forget the clunky tech of the past; this new lineup, built with iconic brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, is sleek, powerful, and packed with AI. The big idea? To make your glasses the central hub for your digital life.
What’s So Special About These?
The star of the show is the Meta Ray-Ban Display. These aren’t your average shades. Imagine a tiny, full-color screen right in the lens where you can see messages, get directions, and even take video calls. Plus, there’s a 12-megapixel camera built right in for capturing your perspective.
But it gets even wilder. Meta also showed off a “neural wristband” that lets you control everything with subtle hand gestures. Think tapping your fingers together to send a message. Zuckerberg called it a “huge scientific breakthrough,” and it’s easy to see why.
Well, it’s easy when it works.
A Live Demo… Oops
In a moment we’ve all experienced with new tech, the live demo hit a snag. Zuck tried to make a WhatsApp call through the glasses and… nothing. After a few awkward attempts, he laughed it off with the audience, saying, “I don’t know what to tell you guys, I keep on messing this up.”
A little hiccup, but a relatable one. It reminds us that even the most ambitious tech is still, well, tech.
So, Should You Save Up?
This advanced “Display” model will set you back $799 when it drops later this month. That’s a significant jump from the more standard (and very popular) Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which are getting a second gen release at $379.
Analysts think the glasses have a much better shot at mainstream success than Meta’s metaverse projects. As one expert put it, glasses are an everyday item, not a bulky headset. But the big question remains: will people see enough benefit to justify the high price tag?
Meta also caters to the athletes with the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, priced at $499.
The Bigger Picture for Meta
This glasses push is part of Meta’s enormous bet on AI. Zuckerberg has pledged to spend hundreds of billions on new AI data centers and talent. The goal? To develop “superintelligence” and bake it directly into your everyday accessories.
However, this innovation push comes as Meta continues to face serious scrutiny. Just this week, protesters gathered at their NYC office, demanding better protections for kids on their platforms. This follows recent Senate testimony from former safety researchers who accused the company of downplaying potential harms to children in VR—a claim Meta strongly denies.
The bottom line? Meta is betting big that AI-powered glasses are the next essential gadget. They look cool and the tech is impressive, but the question for us is: are we ready to wear it?
What do you think? Would you rock a pair of these AI specs? Let us know in the comments on ZTEC100.com!
