Zuckerberg: AI Glasses Will Shape the Future

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes the future of AI will be worn on our faces. In line with views shared in his earlier blog on “superintelligence,” Zuckerberg doubled down during Meta’s second-quarter earnings call, insisting that AI glasses will become the key gateway to digital interaction. People without them, he warned, risk falling behind.

“I still think glasses are going to be the optimal form factor for AI,” Zuckerberg told investors, noting that such wearables enable artificial intelligence to “see what you see, hear what you hear, [and] talk to you.” Add a visual interface, he said, and the tech becomes even more powerful—whether through holographic displays like Meta's upcoming Orion AR glasses or simpler everyday AI-enabled eyewear.

Zuckerberg emphasized the cognitive edge users will gain from AI glasses, predicting that lacking access to these tools will pose a disadvantage. Meta's smart eyewear push is evident in products like the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses, which allow users to take photos, play music, and query Meta AI based on their surroundings. The devices are gaining traction, with year-over-year revenue more than tripling, according to manufacturer EssilorLuxottica.

However, Zuckerberg sees untapped potential in integrating displays. “We’ve been going all-in with Reality Labs over the past 5 to 10 years,” he said, referencing Meta’s research-focused unit. The division continues to incur massive losses—$4.53 billion in Q2 alone—and has racked up nearly $70 billion in operating losses since 2020. Still, Zuckerberg portrays Reality Labs as a crucial investment in future consumer technology.

Despite Meta’s momentum with glasses, the broader market may evolve differently. Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup for $6.5 billion. Other companies are exploring form factors like AI-enabled pins—seen in Humane’s much-hyped device—or pendants from startups like Limitless and Friend.

Glasses currently seem the most practical. Many people already wear them, and they're widely accepted socially. But innovation is unpredictable—just as smartphones redefined communication, the next AI interface might surprise us. Still, Zuckerberg remains committed to his vision.

“Glasses are going to be ideal for blending the physical and digital worlds,” he said. “That’s central to the Metaverse dream, and AI will make it happen faster.”