Big Tech’s Next Big Thing: AI That’s Always Watching, Listening, and Learning
Smartphones have dominated our digital lives for over a decade, but their designs have barely budged. Now, many tech companies are betting that the next leap won’t be on a smartphone screen — but through a new wave of AI-powered devices that blend into everyday life.
Screens are a drag: The thinking is that a new category of consumer hardware is on the horizon, fused with AI (of course). No one knows exactly what these devices will look like or how we’ll use them, but there’s a broad consensus that for AI to be truly useful, it will need to be embedded in the physical world — which may mean reimagining hardware entirely. A few players are already placing bets.
- Two months ago, OpenAI bought ex-Apple designer Jony Ive’s AI device startup for $6.5B, and according to reports and court case filings, their mystery product won’t have a screen — and it won’t be something you wear.
- Earlier this week, Amazon announced plans to acquire an AI wearable similar to a Fitbit — one that’s constantly listening — to “bring truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers.”
The Bots Have Eyes
Others are focusing on smart glasses, a market expected to quadruple from $1.93B in 2024 to $8.26B by 2030, per GrandView Research. The standout so far: Meta’sMETA AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, which sold over 1M units last year. Its eyewear partner, EssilorLuxotticaESLOY, plans to scale production to 10M units by 2026 as the duo expands into Oakley and Prada-branded smart specs.
- Jefferies believes Meta’s tie-up with EssilorLuxottica gives it a leg up — thanks to deeper manufacturing insight and a global distribution advantage critical for scaling smart glasses.
- The company has emphasized that smart glasses will be important for training AI, including real-world visual and audio input that can be used to improve AI models.
Big Tech travels in packs: Seeing the success of Meta’s smart glasses, GoogleGOOG has partnered with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create its own. AppleAAPL, the OG of consumer hardware, is also planning to launch smart glasses by the end of 2026 — although Meta has already taken a jab at its Vision Pro, calling it a “rookie mistake” for being too heavy and poorly balanced. Even SnapSNAP, which was one of the first to launch smart glasses back in 2016, is now looking to debut a lighter-weight version with a new name, Specs — which will incorporate Google’s AI models.