Latest news with #EssilorLuxottica
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First Post
6 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Can AI glasses replace smartphones? Zuckerberg thinks so, do you?
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where AI glasses replace smartphones as the primary computing platform. With over a million Ray-Ban Meta glasses sold and a growing user base, Meta is betting big on wearable tech, but challenges in design, privacy, and competition remain read more Meta's venture into AI glasses is not only forward-thinking, but also financially motivated. AP According to Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, the future of personal computing lies on your face and not in the palm of your hand. Zuckerberg turned his attention to AI-powered smart glasses as the next major platform after Facebook's phone experiment, Buffy, failed. After years of dependence on the mobile ecosystems of Apple and Google, Zuckerberg is focusing on AI glasses as the next tech platform, which could potentially replace smartphones. Although it's a risky gamble and there has been an initial traction, the path to broad adoption of the AI glasses is riddled with complications. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meta's venture into AI glasses is not only forward-thinking, but also financially motivated. The firm invested $3.5 billion in EssilorLuxottica, the company behind Ray-Ban, reinforcing its long-term investment in the wearables category. This move shows Zuckerberg's aim of removing Meta's dependence on iOS and Android by creating a new computing platform which will be run by Meta. Created in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, Meta's Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses are marketed as a fashionable yet practical introduction to wearable technology enhanced by artificial intelligence. The company's generative AI assistant, Meta AI, is integrated with the second-generation model, which was introduced in late 2023 and boasts better audio and hands-free video capture. During internal company meetings, Zuckerberg reportedly referred to the glasses as the 'supercomputer on your face' that could eventually completely replace smartphones. He has also been seen wearing them in public on multiple occasions. Consumer adoption and market response While Meta's idea may appear futuristic, the market response has been positive. Meta reports that over one million pairs of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses were sold in 2024. In a spring all-hands conference, Zuckerberg announced that by April/May 2025, revenues would have tripled and monthly active users will have quadrupled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The attraction is in the hands-free convenience: users can ask questions, play music, snap photographs, or livestream directly to social media without having to pull out their phones. Early users have commended the glasses for their combination of functionality and delicacy, as opposed to larger AR headsets. Still, expanding from a million to hundreds of millions of people, or smartphone-scale acceptance, is a very different task. But there are unanswered questions and consumer uncertainty Despite promising first results, significant practical and societal challenges remain. Smart glasses are more than just a piece of technology; they're an extension of a person's look, and not everyone is ready to wear electronics on their faces. Despite their rising popularity, AI glasses have not won everyone over. There are also cultural attitudes to change: conversing to an AI assistant through glasses may feel strange to many people, particularly in public places. The device's screenless design also restricts its use for tasks that need visual feedback, such as reading emails, editing images, or streaming videos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Competition is coming Despite its current lead, Meta may not maintain it for very long. Apple is reportedly working on creating its own AI-enhanced smart glasses, which should be available by 2026. The company's entry into the market is interpreted as both a validation of Meta's strategy and an indication of intense competition. The market for smart glasses could be significantly altered by Apple's entry. It is also expected that Google and Samsung will enter the competition, setting the stage for a major platform war in wearable technology. A question for you Can AI glasses, then, truly take the place of smartphones? It will depend on more than just hardware, but Zuckerberg is betting billions that the answer is yes. To make that vision a reality, consumer behaviour, privacy regulations, design sophistication, and AI capabilities must all cooperate. The discussion is far from finished. These days, rather than directly replacing smartphones, AI glasses might be a specialised addition. But in a few years, they might take over as the primary interface for our interactions with the digital world, including communication and searching. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta Just Boosted Its Stake in Ray-Ban's Parent—Analysts See AI Potential
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:) is one of the . On July 9, BofA Securities analyst Justin Post raised the price target on the stock to $765.00 (from $690.00) while keeping a 'Buy' rating. The rating affirmation followed reports that the AI giant has acquired almost 3% stake in its AI-eyewear partner EssilorLuxottica, which is the parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley. The investment reflects a deepening and longer-term partnership to develop smart glasses, as per the analysts. The reports further suggest that Meta may have the option to increase its stake in the eyewear company to 5% in the future. According to the firm, Meta's latest investment reflects a particular focus on smart glasses in Meta's hardware and AI wearable strategy, whereas its VR goggles are likely to underperform expectations. While we acknowledge the potential of META as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta Just Boosted Its Stake in Ray-Ban's Parent—Analysts See AI Potential
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:) is one of the . On July 9, BofA Securities analyst Justin Post raised the price target on the stock to $765.00 (from $690.00) while keeping a 'Buy' rating. The rating affirmation followed reports that the AI giant has acquired almost 3% stake in its AI-eyewear partner EssilorLuxottica, which is the parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley. The investment reflects a deepening and longer-term partnership to develop smart glasses, as per the analysts. The reports further suggest that Meta may have the option to increase its stake in the eyewear company to 5% in the future. According to the firm, Meta's latest investment reflects a particular focus on smart glasses in Meta's hardware and AI wearable strategy, whereas its VR goggles are likely to underperform expectations. While we acknowledge the potential of META as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Entrepreneur
10-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Meta Buys Stake in Ray-Ban Parent EssilorLuxottica to Boost AI Wearables Push
The investment represents nearly 3% of the eyewear company's shares and signals Meta's growing interest in AI-powered wearable technology. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Meta Platforms has acquired a minority stake in EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley, for around USD 3.5 billion. The investment represents nearly 3% of the eyewear company's shares and signals Meta's growing interest in AI-powered wearable technology. Meta and EssilorLuxottica have been partners since 2019, working together on smart glasses. Notable products include the Ray-Ban Meta glasses launched in 2023 and the Oakley Meta HSTN released earlier this year. These smart glasses come with features like a 12MP camera, video recording, audio playback, and Meta's AI assistant. The Oakley model also adds durability and water resistance. The new investment, worth approximately €3 billion (USD 3.52 billion), was made through stock market purchases in Paris. Following the news, EssilorLuxottica's US-listed shares rose by more than 6%. This move suggests Meta may increase its stake to 5% in the future, although it currently holds no control over the eyewear giant. The deal fits into Meta's broader strategy of developing AI-enabled consumer devices through its Reality Labs division, which also produces virtual and augmented reality products. EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri has expressed interest in scaling up production of smart eyewear and expanding innovation across the company's brand lineup. With competitors like Apple and Google also exploring wearable tech, Meta's latest investment gives it a stronger foothold in the growing AI wearables market. So far, the deal has not faced any regulatory hurdles. While Meta's stake remains a minority holding, the partnership strengthens its hardware capabilities and signals a long-term commitment to AI-infused everyday tech.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Meta buys 3 per cent stake in Ray-Ban parent co; shares jump
By Elisa Anzolin and Juby Babu Shares in EssilorLuxottica , the maker of Ray-Ban glasses, jumped on Wednesday after reports that Meta Platforms had acquired a stake of nearly 3% in the Franco-Italian company. The shares, which are listed in Paris, rose 5.4% to 252 euros by 0925 GMT, the biggest gainer on the pan European STOXX 600 index. Facebook-parent Meta, which has a partnership with the company for the production of smartglasses, has acquired a nearly 3% stake in the eyewear maker, a source told Reuters on Tuesday. Bloomberg said that Meta had bought a stake worth around 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in EssilorLuxottica and is considering further investments that could build its holding to around 5% over time. EssilorLuxottica declined to comment, while Meta did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters. "The investment should be read as a vote of confidence in EssilorLuxottica in the smart-glasses opportunity," said analysts at Bernstein. Last year both EssilorLuxottica and Meta confirmed they discussed a potential investment by Meta in the company, after the Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. group was in talks to buy a 5% stake. In September Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it would have been a "symbolic" gesture to cement their long-term partnership. Sprucing up its wearable technology with artificial-intelligence capabilities could help Meta attract new users as it invests billions of dollars in bolstering its AI infrastructure. The social media giant announced earlier this year it teamed up with Oakley, another EssilorLuxottica brand, to release AI-powered smart glasses , expanding its push into wearable tech after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, millions of which have been sold since their launch in 2023. The "Oakley Meta HSTN" will feature a hands-free high-resolution camera, open-ear speakers, water resistance and Meta AI capabilities. EssilorLuxottica planned to boost its production capacity for smart glasses and hopes to expand its collaboration with Meta to other brands, Chief Executive Francesco Milleri had said in February.
