Prime Highlights:
Meta partners with Oakley to create new AI-powered smart glasses designed for athletes.
The smart glasses will be based on Oakley’s Sphaera model, with a camera repositioned to the center of the frame.
Meta aims to tap into Oakley’s strong following among athletes, including cyclists, runners, and rowers, to popularize smart glasses.
The collaboration follows the success of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, marking Meta’s continued push in wearable AI tech.
Key Background:
Meta’s Reality Labs division is set to expand its AI smart glasses lineup with a new pair of spectacles, in collaboration with Oakley. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new smart glasses will be designed specifically for athletes, drawing on Oakley’s established reputation in the sports world.
The new Oakley-branded smart glasses will be built on Oakley’s Sphaera model, with modifications to integrate advanced AI technology. One notable change will be a shift of the camera placement to the center of the glasses frame, which aims to enhance functionality and design. This development comes as Meta seeks to capitalize on the success of its previous collaboration with Ray-Ban, which produced the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Meta is strategically targeting athletes by partnering with Oakley, a brand that enjoys a cult-like following among sports enthusiasts, particularly cyclists, runners, and rowers. This partnership could help Meta bring smart glasses to a wider, more mainstream consumer base, particularly within the athletic community. With Oakley’s existing presence in the sports market, the new smart glasses could serve as a gateway to increased adoption of wearable AI technology.
In addition to the Oakley-branded smart glasses, Meta is reportedly exploring several other AI-powered devices. These include camera-equipped earbuds and a smartwatch, with the company continuing to push boundaries in wearable tech. Notably, Meta is also developing a $1,000 pair of smart glasses based on the Ray-Ban Meta’s design. These glasses will feature an augmented reality (AR) display projected on the bottom portion of the right lens, marking another step forward in Meta’s ambition to merge AI and augmented reality in everyday consumer technology.
As Meta continues to innovate in the field of wearable tech, these new ventures signal the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the AI-powered hardware market. The collaboration with Oakley underscores the importance of niche partnerships in broadening the appeal of advanced technologies to diverse consumer groups.
