Meta is gearing up for a major leap in its smart glasses technology, developed in collaboration with Ray-Ban. The company is reportedly working on two new models, internally called Aperol and Bellini, with a planned launch around 2026. These next-gen glasses aim to feature advanced hands-free AI assistants and a range of smart capabilities far beyond the current versions.
A standout feature under development is the software dubbed “super-sensing” vision, which would enable the glasses to actively scan and interpret the user’s surroundings for enhanced AI assistance. This means the glasses could recognize familiar objects like your keys or car and even identify faces of nearby people by recalling stored information. Effectively, the glasses could serve as a kind of visual memory aid, helping users keep track of their environment.
The Live AI interaction time, currently limited to about 30 minutes, is also expected to be significantly extended, allowing users to engage with Meta AI via real-time voice commands for much longer durations.
However, these features raise important privacy and surveillance concerns. Meta is reportedly debating whether to maintain the visible camera indicator (a blinking LED) during facial recognition to ensure transparency. The company seems inclined to keep the indicator active, but questions remain about bystander awareness, especially when super-sensing mode is in use. Users might get controls to manage when and how face-tracking features operate.
Beyond glasses, Meta envisions a broader ecosystem of AI-powered wearables, including earphones equipped with cameras and facial recognition, linking multiple devices to create a seamless AI experience.
On the product front, Meta’s current Ray-Ban AI smart glasses were recently launched in India at Rs 29,900, with retail availability starting May 19. These glasses feature a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a five-microphone array, allowing high-quality photo and video capture that can be instantly shared on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms.
Meta’s roadmap highlights a push towards deeply integrated, intelligent wearables that blend AI seamlessly into daily life, though they’ll need to carefully balance innovation with user privacy and ethical considerations.
