Speaking alongside NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang at the SIGGRAPH 2024 conference, Mark Zuckerberg captured the attention of the audience as he delved into the burgeoning advancements in artificial intelligence. One particular highlight from his hour-long session was the profound vision he unveiled for next-generation wearable technology.
Zuckerberg shared his ambitious outlook for AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses, confidently forecasting that these innovative devices would eventually become ubiquitous consumer products. He projected that these display-less AI glasses, priced at around USD 300, could evolve into significant products, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of users in the foreseeable future.
Having already collaborated with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, to produce the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses launched in 2023, Meta is not new to this arena. The current smart glasses are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor and boast the capability to record 1080p resolution video at 60 frames per second. One of the most compelling features of these glasses is the hands-free livestreaming ability directly to Facebook and Instagram, making it an attractive tool for content creators.
Zuckerberg envisions future iterations of these glasses extending far beyond current functionalities. He emphasized that upcoming models would feature “super interactive AI,” enabling users to engage in natural conversations with their eyewear. Unlike today’s turn-by-turn interaction, where a user prompts the AI and awaits a response, future AI systems will be capable of processing data instantaneously from the user’s perspective through onboard cameras.
He outlined several potential functionalities that these future AI-enhanced glasses could offer, such as:
- Visual language understanding: Empowering the AI to interpret and describe the user’s surroundings.
- Real-time translation: Facilitating seamless conversations across different languages.
- Advanced camera sensors: Enhancing the capability to capture high-quality photos and videos.
- Video calling: Integrating seamlessly with apps like WhatsApp to enable effortless communication.
Zuckerberg also hinted at the inclusion of holographic displays in some models, although he noted that the display-less versions would maintain a sleeker, more conventional eyewear appearance. The primary goal is to design glasses that not only incorporate advanced technology but also look aesthetically pleasing.
While it may take some time before these next-gen glasses are unveiled and become as omnipresent as smartphones, the enthusiasm for wearable tech is unmistakable. With companies accelerating their development in AI, it is only a matter of time before AI-powered glasses become a subject of everyday discussion.