Meta’s Ray-Bans Can Now ‘Remember’ Important Moments for You

Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses have emerged as a compelling player in the AI hardware landscape. Recently announced at the Connect conference, a series of software updates and a new limited-edition translucent style are set to enhance the smart glasses' capabilities.

Among the new features is “Reminders,” which allows the glasses to take a photo of whatever you're viewing and later notify you via your phone. Users can now scan QR codes and directly call phone numbers in sight. Previously, the Meta Ray-Bans only translated a few languages from still images, but excitingly, a real-time language translation feature is in the works. This feature will enable playback of live translations in English, French, Italian, and Spanish through built-in speakers.

During a demonstration of the updates, I noticed significant improvements in AI performance. Previously, the glasses struggled with basic tasks, but now they accurately recognize inquiries and respond to follow-up questions swiftly. A notable absence remains the timer function, which Meta assures is "coming soon."

A Meta product lead mentioned that these updates aim to create more natural interactions with the glasses. Future plans include real-time video processing, allowing the device to understand its surroundings immediately, although this feature won't be available until later this year.

In addition to software enhancements, Meta is collaborating with EssilorLuxottica to introduce a new range of transition lenses and reveal a limited-edition frame design that showcases the internal technology, reminiscent of a retro Game Boy Color. These clear frames are available now, with only 7,500 units being produced.

Despite a challenging year for AI-powered devices, Meta's smart glasses have reportedly exceeded sales expectations, prompting an increase in production. According to IDC estimates, over 700,000 pairs have been shipped, with orders doubling from the first to the second quarter of the year.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed optimism about the future of smart glasses, indicating that while smartphones aren't going away, we will increasingly rely on glasses for a variety of tasks. Meta's latest updates are paving the way for AI assistants integrated into eyewear, moving us closer to a future where these devices play a significant role in our daily interactions with technology.