Snapchat, long-known as a featherweight within the league of Massive Tech giants, is hoping to finest opponents Meta, Google and Apple by releasing its new augmented actuality AI-enabled sensible glasses months, perhaps even years, earlier than the large guys.
Talking at a convention on Tuesday, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel mentioned the corporate would launch a brand new model of its camera-equipped glasses subsequent yr that can incorporate an interactive, AI-enhanced digital display screen throughout the lens. The 2026 launch date can be forward of Meta, which plans to launch its AR “Orion” glasses in 2027, whereas Google has not connected a date to its Android XR glasses.
“The tiny smartphone restricted our creativeness,” Spiegel mentioned in his keynote on the Augmented World Expo convention in Lengthy Seaside, Calif. “It’s clear that at this time’s units and person interfaces are woefully insufficient to appreciate the complete potential of AI.”
The brand new “Snapchat Specs” shall be light-weight and AI-enhanced, Snap mentioned. They’ll permit customers to have a look at objects in the actual world and leverage AI to entry data, similar to translating components on a label from international languages. The glasses will even permit customers to work together with the objects on the lens, Snap mentioned, citing examples like taking part in video video games with their eyeballs.
The corporate didn’t share images of the Specs frames or present data on pricing. As a part of the Specs announcement, Snapchat shared that working system partnerships with OpenAI and Google Gemini will lengthen into experiences for the glasses.
If Snap follows by on the promise of 2026 launch, it could be the primary Massive Tech firm to market with augmented actuality glasses for mainstream customers, claiming an early lead within the race to create the successor to the smartphone—a contest involving everybody from Meta, Google, and Apple, to ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which not too long ago introduced a partnership with former Apple design boss Jony Ive.
A pioneer within the glasses type issue, Snap made waves with the discharge of its “Spectacles” in 2016. The funky wanting glasses had been outfitted with a digicam that allowed customers to publish images and quick video clips on to their Snapchat feed. However lately, Snap’s Spectacles have been eclipsed by Meta, which partnered with EssilorLuxottica to launch Ray-Ban sensible glasses. Although Meta hasn’t shared financials round its Ray-Ban glasses, EssilorLuxottica famous that the businesses have bought over 2 billion glasses since their 2023 debut. Luxottica plans to extend merchandise of the co-branded glasses to 10 million models by 2026, suggesting that the businesses are happy with the outcomes and potential of the glasses.
That mentioned, Meta’s glasses wouldn’t have AR capabilities; somewhat, the glasses have audio-based AI options in addition to picture and video functionality. Meta has mentioned it would launch its Orion AR glasses in 2027, with expertise that can permit customers to scan their Threads feeds with eye monitoring {hardware}.
Different tech giants have glasses of their sights, too. At its IO developer’s convention in Could, Google introduced that it could be part of the sensible glasses market by partnering with Warby Parker. And Apple, whose $3,500 VisionPro headset has didn’t catch on with customers, is reported to launch sensible glasses subsequent yr that mimic the present model of Meta’s Ray Bans, whereas engaged on extra superior AR glasses which can be nonetheless years away, in keeping with Bloomberg.
The Specs announcement follows a turbulent monetary interval for Snapchat. After years of worrisome financials, Snapchat appears to have stabilized and elevated free money stream in the latest quarter. The glasses are partially a income diversification effort as the corporate is propagated by adverts to its social community.
Nonetheless, Snapchat didn’t share what the glasses will value customers. Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which wouldn’t have AR capabilities, value between $239 and $303 so it’s cheap to imagine the Specs’ costs shall be steeper because of the {hardware} necessities.
The fashion and luxury of the glasses are additionally more likely to be important, with customers having repeatedly demonstrated an aversion to bulky- or geeky-looking sensible glasses and headsets. With its 2026 launch date, Snap has thrust itself again into the dialog, however success will relaxation on whether or not it will probably produce a product customers really wish to put on.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
