Meta is poised to unveil new AI-powered smart glasses at its annual Connect event, even as the company faces intensified scrutiny regarding child safety on its platforms. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to reveal the first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display from the company’s Menlo Park, California headquarters, a device that analysts project will retail for around $800.
Codenamed “Hypernova” and possibly to be launched as “Celeste,” the glasses are anticipated to feature a small digital display in the right lens for basic notifications. This new device is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to compete in the AI race, where it is currently trailing behind rivals like OpenAI and Google. However, analysts believe that the product’s high price tag could deter potential buyers.
Meta, which plans to launch its “Orion” prototype glasses in 2027, currently offers two lines of glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley. These glasses include AI features, cameras, and the ability to livestream to Meta’s social media platforms. Zuckerberg has invested over $60 billion in Meta’s augmented reality unit since 2020, stating that smart glasses will be the primary way to integrate superintelligence into everyday human lives.
A Reuters report indicated that Meta’s AI policies had allowed its chatbots to engage in inappropriate conversations with children. Meta has since stated that it has removed the sections of its policies that permitted chatbots to engage in romantic roleplay with minors. At the conference, Meta is also expected to launch its first wristband that will allow users to control the new glasses with hand gestures. Meta is a rare success story in the smart glasses market, having sold about two million pairs of its Ray-Ban line since 2023, even as its augmented reality unit has incurred billions in losses. Analysts suggest the expected $800 price point for the new glasses, significantly higher than the $299 starting price for the Ray-Ban line, will limit its market share.
