Fashionable eyewear devices could be the best at enabling AI adoption
Image: AFP
The search for a perfect AI hardware is on and takes many forms. One of them comes in the form of eyewear products that are touted as the next outlet for rendering AI services. Tech companies have tried eyewear devices, however, they were lacking in style and game changing technology. This time around many have improved on the looks and technology. The Meta RayBan collaboration is one of the great examples of merging technology and fashion. It is packed with AI that features technology in ways we've not seen before.
In June this year, Xiaomi officially entered the smart glasses market with the launch of its first AI-powered eyewear, positioning itself as a rival to Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration. The glasses are powered by Xiaomi's XiaoAI assistant, enabling users to perform a range of tasks via voice command, including capturing video and photos, recognizing objects, translating text, and scanning QR codes for mobile payments via Alipay. The device has capability to handle first-person video calls and live streaming.
Xiaomi's entry into smart eyewear follows similar moves by other major Chinese firms. Huawei introduced its latest AI glasses in April, which feature voice and translation tools but lack a camera. Baidu is preparing to release its own camera-equipped Xiaodu AI glasses later this year, powered by its Ernie AI models.
The eyewear space is getting crowded quickly. It also signals a move from smartphones to other form factors that may dominate in future.
This move is also one of the most promising for AI adoption. It will enable natural use of AI in our daily lives.
According to a report by Counterpoint the global smart glasses market saw shipments more than double in the first half of the year, driven mostly by strong demand for Meta Platforms' glasses, along with new offerings from rising competitors like China's Xiaomi. The report indicates that the 110% year-on-year surge in shipments was fuelled by robust interest in the artificial intelligence glasses segment, which accounted for 78% of total smart frame shipments.
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The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and wearable technology is poised to redefine consumer tech, with an unlikely alliance at the forefront: Meta Platforms Inc. and EssilorLuxottica. This partnership, rooted in strategic synergy between Meta's AI infrastructure and EssilorLuxottica's wearable tech production, represents a bold bet on smart glasses as the next major growth frontier.
Meta's 3% stake in EssilorLuxottica, valued at approximately €3 billion, marks a pivotal shift in its hardware strategy. The collaboration, which began in 2019, has already produced two generations of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, blending Meta's AI-driven voice assistant with EssilorLuxottica's expertise in optical design and global distribution. The second-generation glasses, launched in 2023, now boast features like real-time landmark identification, voice-controlled messaging, and recipe recognition via smartphone tether.
The partnership's true power lies in its complementary strengths: Meta's AI prowess and EssilorLuxottica's unparalleled access to 150+ eyewear brands, including Oakley, Prada, and Chanel. This synergy enables the duo to tackle two critical barriers to wearable tech adoption—usability and desirability—while leveraging EssilorLuxottica's 8 000+ retail locations worldwide.
The adoption of smart glasses is an important progress which may fuel adoption for AI. It is also important for health reasons as well. We are now beginning to see innovations that may transform the spectacles market as well. Recently, Finnish startup IXI has been quietly crafting high-tech specs for more practical purposes. Founded in 2021, the company emerged from stealth in April with $36 million in funding to commercialise what it claims are the world's first autofocus glasses. The prescription specs promise to change the way visually-impaired people see the world around them. This is a space to watch and may be a relief from a world that is dominated by smartphones.
Wesley Diphoko is a Technology Analyst and Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company (South Africa) magazine.
Image: Supplied
Wesley Diphoko is a Technology Analyst and the Editor-In-Chief of FastCompany (SA) magazine.
*** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.
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