Smart glasses are having another huge moment—but this time, Google is committed to seeing it through. Emphasizing the combination of robust AI with sexy design and day-to-day practicality, the company is going all in on the wearable tech market. Centering this effort is its new Android XR platform, and Google isn’t doing it on its own. With collaborators such as Samsung, Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, and Xreal, the agenda is straightforward: mainstream smart glasses.
Here’s a look at what’s going on, why it’s important, and how Google’s strategy may disrupt the market.
Android XR: Google’s New Platform for Smart Wearables
Android XR is Google’s latest platform built specifically for extended reality devices—think smart glasses, mixed reality headsets, and more. It’s the first Android platform fully designed in the age of Gemini, Google’s powerful new AI model, and it’s all about enabling hands-free, real-time assistance that’s aware of your surroundings.
The vision is to develop an AI assistant that shares your vision, hears your voice, and assists you in the moment, whether you’re strolling through a crowded city or entering a virtual world. As Google describes it, with Gemini on these devices, your assistant is by your side, ready to jump in at the moment you need it.
Gemini AI: The Engine Behind It All
The actual headliner of the event is Gemini, the next-generation AI assistant developed by Google. Gemini differs from regular voice assistants as it is made to comprehend even more about your surroundings. It will be able to read visuals, sense context, and act appropriately. That implies your glasses may have the capability to read and summarize a page from a book, detect a landmark, or translate a conversation in real-time.
Shahram Izadi, Google VP and GM of Android XR, described how these AI assistants receive richer context from XR devices, enabling them to know both you and your environment in a much more profound manner. The goal is to develop an assistant that is less of a tool and more of a true companion.
Style Matters: Partnering with Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, and Others
Google realizes that looks matter too—smart glasses must be stylish as well as functional. To that end, they’ve partnered with fashion-forward brands such as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Warby Parker lends a contemporary, real-life look, while Gentle Monster specializes in edgier, fashionista-style frames that trendsetters and Gen Z-lovers adore.
This combination of partners implies that Google is looking to provide something for everyone, whether you prefer something understated and diverse or something bold. On the hardware front, Google is collaborating with Samsung to provide quality and scalability.
Step forward, Xreal and Project Aur.
The first Android XR-powered glasses are from Xreal and are called Project Aura. These aren’t your typical wearables yet—rather, they’re more akin to developer kits designed to bring apps and experiences into your field of view. The glasses include a broad 70-degree field of view, motion-tracking cameras, and a tethered form factor.
Chi Xu, the CEO and founder of Xreal, explains that these light, portable devices are a huge step up from clunky headsets. This type of form factor has been their aspiration for years.
Sparring with Meta’s Ray-Ban Glasses
Google’s renewed focus on smart glasses coincides with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses taking off, with more than 2 million units sold. Meta’s glasses can take photos, livestream, and access Meta AI with voice control, but they’re not providing full AR support yet. That may be changing sooner rather than later, however, as Meta is developing a new model that features a built-in screen.
Google isn’t keeping its competitive intentions quiet. As Izadi reports, they wish to provide glasses that express your own style. The firm has already made up to $150 million in investments in its alliance with Warby Parker, with a portion of that going straight into product development and commercialization.
What Can These Glasses Do?
Up to now, Google’s prototypes have included cameras, speakers, and microphones, which allow for a lot of features, such as taking photos, sending messages to friends, scheduling appointments, finding directions, and live language translation. At Google I/O, they even demonstrated book page summaries on the glasses, identifying places within videos, and live language translation (although translation is still a bit rough around the edges).
Due to Gemini integration, all these glasses have the potential to manage your calendar, operate your phone, or offer accessibility technology for the vision- or hearing-impaired. Izadi said that one of the goals of the team is to provide genuine assistive support using this technology.
What’s Coming Next? Developer Kits and Consumer Launches
Currently, Project Aura is with trusted testers, utilized as a developer kit. Warby Parker and Gentle Monster’s first consumer-facing smart glasses are likely to come out after 2025. Google and Samsung are also designing reference designs for upcoming AR devices.
Google’s strategy spans a broad spectrum of use cases—from video see-through headsets and AR glasses with a broad field of view to display-less AI glasses that are more like an augmented assistant. This is, as Izadi describes it, a full spectrum—from immersive to minimalist—and Google is trying to occupy every corner of that space.
The competition to bring smart glasses to mainstream users is heating up. And with the strength of Gemini AI, fashionable partners, and an adaptable platform like Android XR, Google is making a bold move to capture the next wave of wearable technology.
