After Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Success, Upgraded AI And AR On The Way

Last year, Meta awarded over $2.3 million (£1.78 million) to global security researchers as part of its Bug Bounty Program, which incentivises ethical hackers to detect and combat cybersecurity vulnerabilities across its platforms and products.

This year, the company is reportedly planning to expand its influence in the smart wearables space with a renewed collaboration with designer eyewear brand Ray-Ban to release a newer version of its smart glasses. 

Capitalising on the success of the current Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Meta is eyeing to launch an upgraded version of the specs later this year.

Internally codenamed the Hypernova glasses, these frames have a built-in screen and improved augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) features.

Here’s what consumers can expect from the upgraded version of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses:  

Building On A huge Success

Ray-Ban and Meta first ventured into the smart wearables space in 2021 to provide easy access to hands-free tasks using functional glasses.

While the first version did not gain much commercial success, the latest version of the smart glasses has been game-changing.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which are available in the classic Wayfarer and Headliner designs, can record videos, capture pictures, and live stream from the frames.

Wearers can also leverage hands-free communication using the specs’ virtual assistant Meta AI, which users can prompt to call a specific person or play music by saying “Hey, Meta” followed by a particular command. 

Since the release of the newer version of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in 2023, these smart wearables have attracted more than half a million customers, with over 700,000 pairs shipped since the launch of the latest version, according to market research firm IDC.

Counterpoint Research’s Global Smart Glasses Model Shipments Tracker also found that the demand for the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses has increased global smart glasses shipments by more than 200% year-on-year.

According to Counterpoint, Meta had over 60% of the smart glasses market share in 2024.  

This year, the current Ray-Ban Meta glasses could undergo a major upgrade. Here’s what we know so far: 

Improved AR And AI Functionalities

A Bloomberg report mentioned that the Hypernova glasses will feature a small screen in one lens, touch sensors on the frame, and a much more expensive price point ranging from $1,000 to $1,400 (£775 to £1,084).

Unlike the current version, these smart specs will be able to horizontally display home screen icons and other information through a monocular panel located in the lower-right quadrant of the right lens, marking Meta’s giant leap towards creating AR glasses.  

Wearers can control the displays through capacitive touch controls on the sides of the frames, allowing users to scroll through apps or photos by swiping through temple bars.

The glasses also come with a neural wristband – codenamed Ceres – capable of controlling the specs by recognising hand gestures like finger pinches. 

The smart glasses will also carry improved key Meta AI features. Last year, Meta AI’s chatbot was rolled out in the UK.

It can be exclusively accessed through the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and can answer questions from wearers. According to a Bloomberg report, Hypernova will continue working on having an AI chatbot display in front of wearers’ faces.

This AI-powered chatbot leverages machine learning algorithms to provide personalised services to users, such as brainstorming and processing information.

Wearers can also continue to access Meta AI to capture photos, record videos, and play music.  

The glasses will run a highly customised version of the Android operating system and have improved camera features compared with the current model.

Meta has also reportedly begun working on the second version of the Hypernova glasses, set to release in 2027. This version will have a binocular display system with two screens showing information in both eyes.  

Ray-Ban and Meta’s latest collaboration is set to push the boundaries of eyewear design.

With the Hypernova reportedly set to release later this year, the two companies are poised to solidify their momentum in reshaping the future of eyewear and the smart wearables space.