Google to launch its first AI glasses in 2026 as battle with Meta heats up

Google

Google has confirmed that its first wave of AI-powered glasses will begin rolling out in 2026, signalling a renewed and far more ambitious push into consumer wearables. The announcement comes as the company intensifies efforts to catch up with Meta, whose Ray-Ban Meta glasses have quickly become the most popular AI wearables on the market.

Google revealed that it is co-developing hardware designs with Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, the latter already confirming a 2026 launch window in a regulatory filing. The efforts are backed by Google’s $150 million strategic commitment with Warby Parker, announced earlier this year.

The company plans two product categories. The first is audio-only glasses that will allow users to converse with the Gemini AI assistant hands-free. The second is more advanced eyewear with an in-lens display capable of showing navigation prompts, translations and other contextual information. Google says the first display-equipped models will arrive next year but has not disclosed which designs will lead the rollout.

All the glasses will run on Android XR, Google’s operating system for headsets and mixed-reality devices. This mirrors Google’s broader strategy of unifying its AI, AR and XR initiatives after years of fragmented experiments, including the ill-fated Google Glass.

The company’s renewed confidence is partly driven by recent AI breakthroughs. Sergey Brin, speaking earlier this year, acknowledged that previous attempts faltered because the technology wasn’t ready and supply chain limitations drove prices up. With today’s far more capable on-device AI and improved manufacturing partnerships, Google believes the utility-to-distraction balance finally works in consumers’ favour.

The competitive landscape, however, has changed dramatically. Meta is now the dominant force in AI wearables, thanks to its popular Ray-Ban partnership with EssilorLuxottica. Meta has also launched display-enabled glasses, offering features such as message previews and live captions embedded directly into a lens. Snap and Alibaba are pushing their own versions too, adding more pressure as the market matures.

Google also announced new software upgrades for the Galaxy XR headset, including Windows PC linking and a travel mode that allows the headset to be used seamlessly in cars and planes.