Samsung, Google AI Glasses Challenge Meta, Apple

According to Yahoo Finance, Samsung and Google (GOOGL) jointly unveiled their upcoming AI-powered smart glasses lineup on Tuesday (May 19), marking a new step in the expansion of AI-enabled wearable computing and the broader Android XR ecosystem.

The two companies stated that the smart glasses are designed as a companion device for smartphones, enabling hands-free interaction through voice control. The product integrates lifestyle-oriented AI features, including navigation assistance, location-based recommendations such as nearby cafés along daily routes, and support for placing takeout orders.

The device is also designed to summarize incoming notifications, assist users in creating calendar events, and deliver real-time language translation. In addition, it can translate environmental text such as menus and road signs, highlighting its focus on practical, everyday AI utility.

Jay Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division and Corporate Experience Office, said in a statement that the smart glasses represent a significant milestone in Samsung’s AI vision. He emphasized that the new device format further extends the Galaxy ecosystem, enabling optimized AI experiences tailored to different device categories.

The product will run on Android XR, Google’s dedicated software platform for extended reality devices, and is expected to launch later this year, with additional technical details to be revealed in the coming months. This development follows the companies’ earlier introduction of the Samsung Galaxy XR headset in October, which laid the groundwork for their XR hardware roadmap.

The smart glasses enter an increasingly competitive market segment. Meta Platforms (META) currently leads the category with its Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses and Meta Ray-Ban Display models, which offer similar AI-driven features, with the Display version incorporating a built-in screen.

Other players are also accelerating development in this space. Snap Inc. is actively working on its own AI smart glasses, while the industry widely regards Apple (AAPL) as a major long-term competitor expected to shape the category’s future direction.

According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple could showcase its smart glasses as early as later this year or in early 2027, with a potential commercial launch in the same period. Similar to offerings from Samsung, Google, and Meta, Apple’s device is expected to support hands-free operation, photo and video capture, and multiple design and color options, signaling continued intensification of the global AI wearable hardware race.