Meta and the Battle for Smart Glasses | Google's Return | 3
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. From Audible Originals, I'm David Brown and this is Business Wars.
Back in 2014, Google Glass, Google's foray into the smart glasses space, fell flat with consumers and failed to gain a hold in the marketplace. Not only that, the high-tech frames also inadvertently created controversy. Remember the glass hole backlash? A decade later, Meta changed the narrative, introducing a streamlined fashion-forward approach, partnering with brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley to make less ostentatious smart specs. With millions of pairs now sold, the results are hard to deny. But now Google is back in the game, hoping to give Meta a dose of healthy competition with its new Android XR smart glasses, which the company just previewed at Google I.O. in May. But as smart glasses become more mainstream and get even smarter with advances in artificial intelligence, more people are raising concerns about privacy, data sharing, and facial recognition.
They're questioning the ethics of how companies and their consumers use these products. Here to unpack the ups and downs of the smart glasses evolution are Wired senior gear editor Julian Chokatu and Wired staff writer Boone Ashworth. The two have tried on their fair share of frames on Wired's gear desk. We'll talk about how Meta emerged as the leader in the space and dive into the privacy debate. And later, we'll get Julian and Boone's thoughts on their test drive of Google's brand new Android XR glasses. and talk about where the industry might be headed next. So pop in those earbuds, or maybe you've got a pair of audio-enabled smart frames. You're going to want to pull them out because that's all coming up next.
IC-juno 25 rushed past the sand field. Ranneke looked at Enomma with his hands when the performers started the set. The atmosphere was excited. The tunnels were dusty and people were not stoned. The food was warm and the drinks were cold. There was enough hand soap in the toilets. Festarijuna was not a crazier start to the weekend. We took care of the journey. You decide how you use it. VR. On a common journey. When a charming neurosurgeon rode into Western towns selling a persona of confidence and care, patients trusted him. He wore cowboy boots in the operating room and became sought after by patients. He promised to heal them. Instead, he left a trail of broken bodies.
What lessons did Google Glass teach us about smart glasses?
This is a story of greed, betrayal, and a fight for justice. Listen to Dr. Death, The Cowboy, wherever you get your podcasts, or binge the entire series right now, only with Audible.
Julian Chukotu, Boone Ashworth, welcome to Business Wars. Thanks very much for having us. Hey, David, happy to be here. Yeah, it's great to have you. I can imagine running the gear desk at Wired's got to feel like that proverbial kid in the candy store. Before we get into the smart glasses, anything come across your desk recently that made you think, well, that's a new one. Didn't see that coming.
Well, I'm holding a different pair of smart glasses. They're the X-Real R1 glasses that I used to watch the Fellowship of the Ring yesterday. Just a giant screen on my face that I can move around with.
Tell listeners a little bit about it. Describe it for us.
Oh, sure. They're lightweight glasses that plug into your phone or, you know, your Steam Deck or console. And then they project a big screen out in front of you and it's a little blurry. And it's a little bit of a limited field of view.
How has Meta changed the narrative in the smart glasses market?
It's about 57 degrees. You still see the rest of the room around you and your peripherals. So it's Kind of dizzy and kind of hard to get used to, but after a bit, you settle in.
Sounds like fun, question mark? I'm trying to imagine watching a movie with one of these things on. I can't imagine that would be a pleasant experience, I got to admit.
I did not make it through the entire three-hour movie.
Julian, what about you? Well, I broke my leg in like two months ago. And so it's been this opportunity to call in some stuff that are things that I would not usually test, accessibility-minded stuff.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–3:03
2
What lessons did Google Glass teach us about smart glasses?
3:03–4:18
3
How has Meta changed the narrative in the smart glasses market?
4:18–5:14
4
What new features does Google's Android XR smart glasses offer?
5:14–6:20
5
What ethical concerns arise with AI-powered smart glasses?
6:20–8:00
6
How do Meta's smart glasses compare to Google's new offerings?
8:00–10:42
7
What are the privacy implications of smart glasses technology?
10:42–15:43
8
How do design and fashion influence the success of smart glasses?
15:43–48:38