Google Set to Relaunch Smart Glasses with AI Integration in 2026
Google is preparing to make a renewed push into the smart glasses market by unveiling plans to launch a new generation of AI-powered smart glasses in 2026. This move comes after the company’s earlier attempt with Google Glass failed to gain widespread acceptance and was discontinued.
A Second Attempt at Smart Glasses
Google first introduced its pioneering smart glasses, Google Glass, in 2013, generating significant excitement about the future of wearable technology. The device featured a bulky screen positioned above the right eye and incorporated a camera, allowing users to take photos, record videos, and interact with a digital display. However, concerns regarding privacy, usability, design, and social acceptance ultimately led Google to halt sales just seven months after its UK release in 2015. Since then, Google has developed a revamped version called Google Glass Enterprise targeted at workplace applications, which was retired in 2023. Now, the company aims to revisit the consumer smart glasses concept with a cleaner, more streamlined design that better integrates artificial intelligence capabilities.
Two Models with Distinct Features
Google plans to release two different varieties of AI smart glasses. One model will focus on providing AI assistance without including a digital screen, enhancing user interaction with AI tools such as its chatbot Gemini. The second model will feature a built-in display on the glasses themselves. Detailed information on the exact form and functionality of these devices is still forthcoming.
Technology analyst Paolo Pescatore emphasized to the BBC the importance of Google learning from past mistakes, stating that the initial Google Glass was arguably "ahead of its time, poorly conceived and executed." He further noted that the success of Google’s renewed effort could be bolstered by the capabilities of their Gemini AI system.
Market Competition and Growth
Google is entering a market that has already seen notable developments, particularly from Meta, which launched its own AI-powered smart glasses earlier this year. Meta’s smart specs, produced in collaboration with luxury eyewear brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, have reportedly sold two million pairs as of February 2025. According to Counterpoint Research, the smart glasses market experienced a surge in the first half of 2025. Sales of AI glasses increased by more than 250% year-on-year, driven by growing demand for Meta’s devices and the introduction of similar offerings from smaller brands.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the technological advancements, smart glasses still face hurdles related to privacy concerns and consumer usability preferences. Early criticisms of Google Glass highlighted how bulky designs and privacy issues dampened user enthusiasm. As Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC Technology Correspondent, noted, the future success of wearable computers depends heavily on making the devices both attractive and intuitive to use so that users hardly notice they are wearing them.
Tech companies today are focusing on collaborations with designer eyewear brands to create sleeker frames that can house powerful AI features discreetly.
As Google gears up for its 2026 smart glasses launch, the tech world will be watching closely to see if this second attempt can finally deliver on the promise of AI-powered wearable technology.
This article is based on reports from the BBC and industry experts as of mid-2025.
