On December 8, Google officially announced the roadmap for AI glasses at "The Android Show: XR Edition," partnering with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker to launch two devices: ① screenless AI glasses with auxiliary features; ② single-lens display AI glasses. Both will be equipped with the Gemini multimodal model, with the first products scheduled for release in 2026.
Screenless version: lightweight "audio + visual" assistant
- Hardware: built-in speaker, microphone, camera, no display, appearance similar to regular optical glasses
- Features: photo taking, music listening, voice summoning of Gemini, support for visual Q&A and environmental summary
- Positioning: daily wear, weight <46g, battery life up to 10 hours, directly targeting Ray-Ban Meta
Display version: single-lens AR "card + subtitles" screen
- Hardware: a micro-display is embedded in the right lens, and the temple integrates a touchpad and speaker
- Features: directional navigation, real-time translation subtitles, Gemini card prompts; the screen lights up only when in use, avoiding blocking the view
- Connection: wireless pairing with Android phones, with the phone providing computing power, while the glasses focus on sensing and display
Ecosystem and Roadmap
- System: runs on the unified Android XR platform, developers can use Jetpack XR SDK to adapt the same code to headsets and glasses form factors
- Chip: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen2, 4nm process, 50% improvement in CPU/GPU performance, supports on-device small model inference
- Timeline: release screenless and single-lens display versions in 2026; launch dual-lens XR glasses in 2027, featuring depth-mixed vision
Collaboration Model: Dual Tracks of Hardware and Fashion
- Warby Parker handles North American channels and fashion design, Gentle Monster focuses on the Asian fashion market, and Samsung provides supply chain and display technology
- Google only sets the Android XR standard and Gemini service, does not directly involve hardware manufacturing, to avoid repeating the mistake of Google Glass
Market Significance: Revival of Google Glass
Ten years ago, Google Glass failed due to its strange appearance, short battery life, and privacy concerns. The new solution emphasizes "making people willing to wear it," entering daily scenarios with a lightweight frame and Gemini visual AI, then gradually adding displays and mixed reality. With the simultaneous launch of Meta Ray-Ban, Apple Vision Pro, and Snap AR glasses, 2026 will become the breakout year for consumer-grade AI glasses. Whether Google's strategy of "light hardware + heavy AI" can catch up later remains to be seen. AIbase will continue to track its developer SDK and final price release.
