Google announces new audio smart glasses with Warby Parker

In short: Google says it will launch new “audio glasses” later this year that let people talk to their glasses to get things done.

What happened

Google announced the new glasses at its Google I/O event. The company says it is working with eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to produce the glasses.

Google says the glasses are designed to work with both Android phones and iPhones. The company also said the devices were designed in collaboration with Samsung.

Google is calling them “audio glasses.” In simple terms, that means you can speak to the glasses, like you would speak to a voice assistant on a phone or smart speaker. In a demo, a Google employee ordered a coffee online by talking to the glasses while they were synced to a phone.

Why it matters

Wearable devices like glasses are meant to keep your hands free. If these work as described, they could make small tasks, like sending a message or placing an order, feel more like having a helpful helper nearby (like tapping a friend on the shoulder, except you talk out loud). The announcement also shows Google returning to smart glasses after its earlier attempt, Google Glass, which drew public backlash in part because of privacy concerns and social discomfort.

Source: TechCrunch AI