Google is said to be seeking to hijack the lucrative Ray-Ban partnership from Meta in order to propel its Gemini smart glasses, but Mark Zuckerberg appears to have a strategy in place to thwart the move.
According to sources close to the matter, cited by The Verge’s Alex Heath, Google has allegedly approached EssilorLuxottica regarding integration of its Gemini AI technology into forthcoming smart glasses.
EssilorLuxottica nearly holds a stranglehold on the global eyewear industry, with iconic brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley forming part of its impressive portfolio of renowned manufacturers. Compared to traditional AI assistants like Meta AI and Gemini, the landscape has transformed into a commodity market, where no single company’s model boasts a substantial advantage over its peers.
EssilorLuxottica holds the upper hand in its collaboration with Meta, yielding significant influence over the outcome of their joint venture, the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. EssilorLuxottica could potentially replace Meta AI with Google’s Gemini or ChatGPT, leaving the product’s value proposition largely unchanged. While Meta AI’s collaboration with Ray-Ban and their iconic design may have generated significant interest, its absence could lead to a far less captivating product.
Meta’s Augmented Reality (AR) Glasses Won’t Bear the Ray-Ban Label
Meta’s upcoming HUD glasses are set to debut next year, sans Ray-Ban branding, following a reported rift with EssilorLuxottica over the device’s body thickness.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly emphasized that the company has witnessed extraordinary demand for its Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, prompting the corporation to ramp up production to meet this surging interest. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth recently reminded employees that they’re a much bigger hit than expected.
In a move that sent shockwaves through the tech and eyewear industries, The Monetary Times and The Wall Street Journal revealed that Meta is mulling over a multibillion-euro investment in EssilorLuxottica, potentially securing a roughly 5% stake in the company, which could grant it significant influence on future smart glasses decision-making. According to Heath’s sources, a potential shift in Meta’s funding is plausible. Meanwhile, it appears highly improbable for Meta to forfeit its partnership with Google.
It’s possible that EssilorLuxottica might consider undertaking a non-exclusive approach instead. Ray-Ban may soon expand its wearable tech portfolio by introducing Ray-Ban Google Glasses alongside its own Meta Glasses offerings. If Mark Zuckerberg’s investment is successful, he may be hoping to stifle the idea in its infancy.
