Mark Zuckerberg spoke with great ambition about the future of Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses business, believing the world is heading toward a historic turning point similar to the advent of smartphones, where smart glasses will become an integral part of our daily lives.
Article contents:
- Introduction: A new bet after the metaverse
- A moment resembling the rise of smartphones
- Sales growth and market optimism
- Competitors prepare: Google and Apple
- OpenAI and wearable devices
- Meta currently leads the market
- Conclusion
Introduction: A new bet after the metaverse
During the Q4 2025 earnings call, it was clear that Meta is changing course. After shifting Reality Labs investments away from the metaverse, the company is now doubling down on AI-powered wearables alongside its proprietary AI models. This shift reflects a fresh market read that focuses on integrating technology into familiar tools like glasses rather than complex virtual worlds.
A moment resembling the rise of smartphones
Zuckerberg said: “Billions of people wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. And I think we are at a moment similar to the arrival of smartphones, where it was clear it was only a matter of time before all those flip phones turned into smartphones.” He added with a strong phrasing: “It’s hard to imagine a world a few years from now where most of the glasses people wear are not smart glasses.” This vision positions smart glasses as the potential successor or essential companion to mobile phones in the near future.
Sales growth and market optimism
To support his point, Zuckerberg noted that Meta glasses sales tripled over the past year, expressing his belief that they are “one of the fastest-growing consumer electronics devices in history.” Although Zuckerberg’s track record for predictions is not always perfect (previously believing we would work and spend our time in the metaverse by now), major tech players allocating their money and efforts indicates that smart glasses are bracing for a big moment, even if not immediately on the scale of the smartphone revolution.
Competitors prepare: Google and Apple
The market is heating up with competition. Google is expected to launch a line of smart glasses this year following a $150 million deal with Warby Parker. Bloomberg reports that Apple is also planning to unveil smart glasses in the next year or two, having reassigned some employees to work on this project rather than a lighter version of the Vision Pro. Meanwhile, Snap announced on Tuesday that it will spin off its augmented reality glasses, Spectacles, into a new subsidiary to allow for “greater operational focus and alignment.”
OpenAI and wearable devices
Even OpenAI, which has never entered the hardware space, is pursuing AI-powered wearables, though it appears more focused on something like an AI pin or earbuds, rather than glasses. Apple is also rumored to be working on an AirTag-sized AI device. Hopes are pinned on these efforts performing better than the Humane AI pin, which did not see major success.
Meta currently leads the market
Currently, Meta is leading the way in pushing smart glasses to market, with several different models already on sale. This includes Oakley smart glasses designed for wear during sports, which is one of the most promising use cases seen for these devices so far.
Conclusion
Whether Zuckerberg’s prophecy comes fully true or not, the industry consensus is clear: artificial intelligence is stepping out of screens to become part of what we wear. Smart glasses look like the strongest candidate to be the interface of the future, as major companies race to secure a spot on users’ faces.
Frequently asked questions
Question: Will smart glasses replace mobile phones?
Answer: Zuckerberg sees them becoming as ubiquitous as smartphones, but in the near term, they will serve as a strong companion and likely reduce the need to pull a phone out of your pocket.
Question: Who are Meta’s competitors in this field?
Answer: The main competitors are Apple, Google, and Snap, alongside potential new players like OpenAI.
Question: What distinguishes Meta’s current glasses?
Answer: They feature diverse models already available in the market, partnerships with brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, and strong integration of AI assistants.
