Meta’s Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, believes smart glasses are not just a gadget but the future of computing, a technology that could eventually take the place of the smartphone. In a recent discussion, the longtime Meta executive shared the company’s vision of a world where wearable technology becomes the natural, almost seamless interface between people and digital experiences, moving us past the constant dependence on handheld screens.
Key Takeaways
- Meta’s product head, Chris Cox, sees smart glasses as the next primary computing platform after smartphones.
- The goal is to create a hands-free way to interact with digital information and AI assistants.
- The current Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a step towards this future, combining a camera, audio, and AI in a familiar form.
- The ultimate aim is to develop true Augmented Reality (AR) glasses that overlay digital content onto the real world.
Cox describes the shift from phones to glasses as one of the most significant changes in how we use technology. The idea is straightforward: instead of always looking down at a screen, you would access communication, entertainment, and information right through a pair of glasses. That way, people could stay connected without constantly breaking their attention from the world around them.
At the moment, Meta’s most visible product in this space is the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These aren’t true AR devices yet. They function more like a stylish wearable accessory linked to a phone. Still, they’re fairly capable: a 12 MP camera for sharp photos, 1080p video recording, open-ear speakers for music, and call support. One standout is the built-in Meta AI, which responds to voice commands with a simple “Hey Meta.” It’s a small but telling step toward the kind of hands-free future Cox envisions.
All of this fits into Meta’s larger bet on the metaverse, the company’s long-term plan for an internet where shared, persistent 3D spaces become as natural as websites are today. True AR glasses, which Meta’s research teams are still developing, would be at the heart of that. Unlike the Ray-Ban models, these future devices would project digital objects and information directly into the real world. Imagine glancing at a street and seeing your navigation arrows overlaid right on the pavement or pulling up a virtual TV screen on the wall in your living room without ever touching a remote.
Of course, none of this is simple. Building glasses that are powerful enough yet lightweight, with batteries that last all day, is a challenge engineers have struggled with for years. And beyond the technical hurdles, there’s the question of public trust. Glasses with always-on cameras inevitably raise concerns about surveillance and privacy. Forums and discussion boards are full of debates on whether people are ready to accept that trade-off. Meta has acknowledged these concerns, stressing that it intends to approach the technology with responsibility, but skepticism is likely to remain part of the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What did Chris Cox say about smart glasses?
A. Chris Cox, Meta’s Chief Product Officer, stated that smart glasses are the future of computing and will eventually replace smartphones as our main technological interface.
Q. What can the current Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses do?
A. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can take photos and videos, play audio, make calls, and interact with the Meta AI assistant through voice commands. They connect to a smartphone to function.
Q. What is the difference between smart glasses and AR glasses?
A. Current smart glasses act as accessories to a phone, offering features like a camera and audio. True Augmented Reality (AR) glasses will be able to display digital information and virtual objects directly onto the real world through the lenses.
Q. When will Meta release its full AR glasses?
A. Meta has not announced an official release date for its true AR glasses. The technology is still in the advanced development phase inside the company’s research labs.
Q. Why does Meta believe smart glasses will replace smartphones?
A. Meta believes smart glasses offer a more natural, hands-free way to interact with technology that keeps people engaged with their physical environment, unlike smartphones which require users to look down at a screen.
