Sergey Brin is in the news again, and this time he’s not merely looking back on Google Glass—he’s intent on getting smart glasses right. During Google I/O, Brin surprised everyone by making a public appearance, publicly talking about the struggles of Google’s initial wearable and why he thinks Android XR, with Gemini AI, is due for a triumphant return.
Looking Back Honestly on Google Glass
It’s not common to find a technology founder so forthright about their own mistakes, but Brin wasn’t shy. “I made a lot of mistakes with Google Glass,” he said, particularly when it came to grasping the intricacies of consumer electronics supply chains and the challenge of offering a quality product at an affordable price. The first Glass, at $1,500 in its iconic camera bump, was both a stunning bit of engineering and a cultural lightning rod — recall the “Glasshole” jokes?
Brin never lost enthusiasm for the form factor of smart glasses, but he sees that Google Glass was too early and not yet suitable for the masses of consumers. “I didn’t know very much about consumer electronics supply chains or just how difficult it would be to make something cheap,” he said, looking back on the tough lessons of the Glass years.
What’s Changed with Android XR?
This time, Google is not going it alone. It has allied itself with known names such as Warby Parker, Samsung, Xreal, Gentle Monster, and Qualcomm — firms that have expertise of long standing in manufacturing, design, and retail, all areas in which Google had struggled in the past. Brin stressed the importance of these “great partners” in assisting in developing smart glasses that aren’t only functional but also nice to look at and comfortable like ordinary eyewear. Finally, now it looks like regular glasses without that big ol’ camera sticking out,” he said, referencing the infamous design flaw of the original Glass.
The AI Leap: Gemini Makes Smart Glasses Truly Useful
What distinguishes this next generation is AI. Google Glass, when it initially debuted, was “smart” only in name — it wasn’t smart enough to deliver useful, daily utility. Now, thanks to Gemini AI that powers it, Android XR glasses can offer live translation, step-by-step navigation, object detection, and more. Brin clarified, “Advances in AI like Gemini now enable smart glasses to accomplish things that simply weren’t feasible during the Glass era.”
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, added that “the universal assistant is the killer app for smart glasses. That’s what’s going to make it work.” Imagine an AI assistant always on hand, responding naturally to your voice and helping you without being intrusive.
Brin’s Hands-On Return and Renewed Optimism
Brin isn’t advising from the sidelines, though—he’s heavily invested, closely collaborating with the Gemini team on multimodal AI projects. He spends almost every day in Google’s Mountain View headquarters, stretching the boundaries of what AI can contribute to wearable technology. As he said, “Anyone who’s a computer scientist shouldn’t be retired now. They should be working on AI.”
Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned and Ambitions Renewed
With Android XR, Google is gambling that the appropriate hardware partners and sophisticated AI will at last make good on the promise of smart glasses. Brin’s willingness to admit previous errors, as well as his hands-on engagement, represents a new beginning—not only for Google but for the whole area of wearable technology. This time, the vision is that smart glasses will transcend novelty and become a truly practical, ubiquitous companion.
