The battle for augmented reality (AR) supremacy is heating up, and the latest skirmish involves a familiar fashion staple: Ray-Ban sunglasses. Google is making a bold move, seemingly attempting to poach the Ray-Ban partnership from Meta (formerly Facebook).
Meta’s head start with Ray-Ban
Meta, formerly Facebook, has been in partnership with EssilorLuxottica since 2021. Their collaboration began with the launch of Ray-Ban Stories, smart glasses designed to rival Snapchat Spectacles.
The initial iteration focused on integrating camera and audio capabilities without a display to offer a more socially connected eyewear experience.
Building on this foundation, Meta recently introduced the Ray-Ban I Meta Collection. This new generation of smart glasses features advanced hardware, including a 12 MP ultrawide camera, enhanced audio systems and integrated AI capabilities.
These glasses allow for live streaming, making them particularly appealing to content creators who can broadcast experiences in real-time, hands-free. The collection includes various styles, ensuring that users do not have to compromise on aesthetics for functionality.
Google’s bold move
Google, recognizing the potential of smart eyewear, is attempting to outbid Meta for the partnership with EssilorLuxottica. This strategic move involves integrating Google’s Gemini AI assistant into future Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Google’s interest in this partnership underscores the growing demand and technological advancements in the smart glasses sector.
Google’s ambition to disrupt Meta’s foothold comes at a time when EssilorLuxottica is reporting high demand for its Ray-Ban Meta eyewear. This demand indicates a significant shift in consumer acceptance and enthusiasm for smart glasses, which have historically struggled to gain mainstream traction.
A partnership poaching attempt? Not so fast
While Google’s approach is ambitious, analysts believe they’ll unlikely completely steal the Ray-Ban partnership from Meta. Here’s why:
- Meta’s investment: Meta is reportedly in talks with EssilorLuxottica for a potential minority stake in the company. This financial investment would solidify their existing partnership and strengthen their hold on Ray-Ban smart glasses.
- Google Glass: A Ghost from the Past Google has a history with EssilorLuxottica, collaborating on the ill-fated Google Glass project in 2013. The project ultimately failed due to privacy concerns and a clunky design. Google’s past may influence EssilorLuxottica’s decision.
Overall
The battle for smart glasses supremacy has only just begun. Whether Google manages to snag Ray-Ban or not, the competition will drive innovation and ultimately benefit consumers.
(Via TheVerge)
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