Can Meta’s new smart glasses succeed where other AI gadgets have failed?

We are now living in the age of artificial intelligence, but AI wearables are yet to find solid ground to stand on. Until now, it’s only been hype with little to show in reality. Gadgets like the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 promised to be the next big thing in AI hardware but ended up leaving much to be desired.

It’s not the first time the tech world has experienced this pattern of high expectations followed by disappointment. A decade ago, smart glasses and augmented reality headsets were supposed to revolutionize how we interact with the world. Remember Google Glass? What about the countless attempts to revive that dream with Magic Leap, Microsoft’s HoloLens, and even the recent Apple Vision Pro? None lived up to the vision.

But then here comes Meta’s smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta, a device that has somehow succeeded where others have stumbled. These glasses have not only been well-received but have exceeded expectations.

The unexpected success of Meta’s smart glasses

The positive reception of Meta’s smart glasses can be attributed to one factor. Style! Meta figured out that people don’t want to wear bulky, sci-fi-looking devices on their faces. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses come in various stylish designs, making it easier for consumers to adopt them without feeling like a walking tech experiment.

And at $299, they are far more affordable than Apple’s Vision Pro or Humane’s AI Pin, making them accessible to a wider audience.

The glasses also deliver on practical features. Audio quality is solid, and the call quality, thanks to a cleverly placed microphone, is surprisingly good. The video and photo capabilities, while not revolutionary, are sufficient for posting on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, which aligns with today’s content-creation culture.

Also unlike their predecessors, Meta’s ray ban glasses are not anchored on AI as their main selling point. Rather, AI is baked into the product as a helpful feature that can help users with tasks such as identifying landmarks, translating a menu, or even writing Instagram captions. While these features aren’t perfect — Meta AI’s caption-writing skills still leave much to be desired — they work well enough to be useful. And crucially, if the AI fails, the device still functions as a pair of fashionable glasses with audio and video capabilities.

Meta has a shot at success

Meta’s approach may be simple, but it’s strategic. Rather than promising a groundbreaking device that changes how we live, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses seamlessly fit into everyday life. You don’t need to wait for future software updates for them to work properly. They’re useful right out of the box, and that makes them attractive to consumers.

Meta’s bet is clear: get people comfortable with smart glasses now, and they’ll be more likely to embrace AI-powered wearables — and eventually AR — in the future. However, if Meta truly wants to be the leader in AI hardware, it can’t just settle for “good enough.” The AI needs to make a real impact, transforming the glasses from a cool gadget to a must-have tool that genuinely improves users’ lives.

If Meta can prove that its AI can evolve beyond novelty features and truly enhance users’ lives, it might just succeed where others have failed. The dream of AI hardware isn’t dead yet — and Meta seems poised to keep it alive.