Apple Develops AI Smart Glasses to Rival Meta Ray-Bans

Apple is developing a pair of AI-powered smart glasses designed to rival devices like Meta's Ray-Bans, with reports indicating the device will feature two onboard cameras and gesture-based controls, according to sources familiar with the project.

The glasses are expected to include a high-resolution camera for capturing photos and videos comparable to those from an iPhone, suitable for sharing on social media. A second low-resolution wide-angle lens would handle hand gesture recognition to enable user inputs, as well as provide visual data for an upgraded version of Siri set to launch with iOS 27. Users could take hands-free photos and videos, make phone calls, and query Siri about their surroundings. The first iteration will lack a display, LiDAR, or 3D cameras, prioritizing a slim, lightweight design powered by a small battery to extend usage time.

This stripped-down approach stems from battery constraints, as energy-intensive features would compromise the form factor. Apple has been testing multiple frame styles, including acetate, a flexible plant-based material lighter and more comfortable than traditional plastic. Gesture support draws from existing technology in the...