Last December, I wore Google Glasses while they were still under development. At this week’s Google I/O developer conference, we should find out when you’ll be able to get your hands on a pair.
Until now, Meta has been the biggest tech company aiming to place a screen on your face in glasses form. But Google’s entering the race with a range of smart glasses, its first return to everyday face tech since Google Glass in 2013.
This time, the focus is on AI: Gemini will be the key component that powers Google’s Android XR glasses. The smart glasses will come in a wide range of designs: Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, Kering Eyewear and Samsung are all expected to have their own models. Xreal, a maker of display glasses, will also have a mixed-reality device called Project Aura.
I’ll be attending Google’s annual developers conference along with several other CNET colleagues. If you’ve thought about getting a pair of smart glasses, you’ll want to see what they’re all about.
CNET’s Patrick Holland trying on a prototype model of the glasses last year, also at Google I/O.
Three (or more) design partners
Warby Parker, Korean fashion eyewear brand Gentle Monster and European eyewear brand Kering are already official Android XR glasses partners, meaning all three will launch lines of Android XR glasses. Expect lots of designs and fashion riffs, much like how Meta’s glasses partner EssilorLuxottica makes many frame designs under its Oakley and Ray-Ban brands.
Gucci smart glasses are expected via Kering, and there are sure to be more surprises. Also, Samsung is likely in the mix. Even though Samsung is already a partner helping make all these other glasses (likely by provisioning camera and display components), Samsung is reportedly going to announce its own Android XR glasses at some point, too, perhaps as soon as July at the next Unpacked event.
Google could be letting Samsung be the first mover in the space, since that’s exactly what’s happened with smart watches and the Galaxy XR headset over the last few years. If that’s the case, Samsung’s glasses could launch first, followed by the others.
Add to the mix Xreal, a manufacturer of USB-tethered display-enabled glasses, which is making its own Android XR mini-computer called Project Aura (more on that below).
Much like Google’s many partnerships with watch brands years ago via Android Wear, more glasses brands could come aboard in the future as well.
Will you know who’s wearing these glasses, and how comfortable will the AI privacy policies feel?
Will Google solve the privacy and social acceptance issues?
Meta has repeatedly run into trouble with its handling of users’ personal data, and the inappropriate public use of its smart glasses’ cameras has led to social media backlash. Meta’s AI privacy policies are murky, and Meta’s not a company that’s respected for social media safety or privacy, with very good reason.
Will Google do better? It’s considered more reputable, but it’s also a company that already blends ads into our personal data and is increasingly swallowing up more data, like health and fitness, for its connected AI services. Google will have to explain how responsible it’ll be with glasses going forward, and overcome public acceptance factors. Will the “Glasshole” moniker come back to bite it?
Price and release date unknown
We have no idea when these glasses are coming, other than “sometime in 2026.” But expect more news starting at Google I/O on May 19.
