Latest news with #Ray-BanStories
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Meta launches $513 Oakley AI glasses with 3K video recording
The display-free Oakley glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. PHOTO: META Meta Platforms Inc. is going up-market with its surprise hit smart glasses, rolling out new models with Oakley that are aimed at athletes and include improved video recording. The company on June 20 launched new models based on Oakley's HSTN design, marking the company's first expansion away from Ray-Ban for its display-free glasses. Like the original models, the Oakley versions can make and take phone calls, play music, take pictures and video and use Meta's artificial intelligence to answer questions about the surrounding environment. The new versions, which start at US$399 (S$513) and go up to US$499 for a limited edition model with gold-colored accents, include about double the battery life, video-recording at 3K resolution and water resistance. 'We are increasingly seeing performance use cases with the Ray-Bans like people wearing them on roller coasters, cycling and being around water, so we're trying to lean into that,' says Mr Alex Himel, the company's vice-president in charge of wearables, in an interview. Arriving at its second glasses brand was far from a sure thing. Meta's first glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, flopped in 2021. But its follow-up version in 2023 was a massive success, giving the social networking giant a real potential hardware stronghold in the artificial intelligence race. 'It was crazy. Popularity caught us by surprise a bit,' Mr Himel said. The Ray-Bans were 'going to be the last display-less pair of glasses. We said we'll take two swings at it, and if it doesn't work we'll go all-in on augmented reality'. Instead, beyond the latest Oakley model, the company has a multi-year road map for the display-less category and is planning a follow-up pair of Oakley glasses based on the Sphera design for later in 2025 , according to people with knowledge of the matter. That pair will be aimed at cyclists and have a centred camera. The model on June 20 has a camera positioned in the upper corner like the Ray-Ban version. The display-free glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. The company is planning to introduce higher-end glasses with a display to view notifications and the camera view finder later in 202 5, Bloomberg News has reported. In 2027, it aims to roll out its first true augmented reality glasses, which will blend digital apps with the real world. Meta's form-factor has caught on, with several other technology companies working on competitors. Apple Inc. is planning to introduce its first glasses product at the end of 2026, Bloomberg News has reported. That device will operate similarly to the Meta product but better synchronise with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Inc. also sells glasses, but their current models lack cameras. Mr Himel, who said Meta has sold millions of glasses and has a 'nice, increasing multiple' of purchases on a year-over-year basis each week, attributed the increased popularity to the Ray-Bans improving across a large number of 'small things.' He said the audio quality and microphones started to surpass standalone earbuds, while the camera and AI quality also improved. Still, Mr Himel said battery life remains the 'number one complaint' about the Ray-Ban versions. The new Oakley models can run for 8 hours on a single charge, with the charging case holding 48 hours of juice. 'You should expect a 40 per cent bump with these' he says, attributing the improvement to new battery chemistry and software optimisations – not larger battery packs. Like Ray-Ban, Oakley is owned by EssilorLuxottica SA, which calls Oakley its second most popular brand after Ray-Ban. Mr Himel said Meta will roll out new brands under the EssilorLuxottica portfolio 'as fast as we can. 'We're going to have to move very quickly because in the world of fashion, stuff moves very quickly,' he says. 'The stuff that is a hit right now might not be a year from now. We need to be fast to hit all the brands that we'd like to.' The first Oakley model, becoming available for pre-order on July 11, will be the US$499 limited edition pair. The US$399 versions – which come in grey, black, brown and clear colors – will be released in the coming months. There will be versions with clear, transition and polarised lenses. Like with the Ray-Bans, users can swap the lenses for prescription optics. The glasses will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, according to Meta. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Meta launches $399 Oakley AI Glasses with 3K video recording
Meta Platforms Inc. is going up-market with its surprise hit smart glasses, rolling out new models with Oakley that are aimed at athletes and include improved video recording. The company on Friday launched new models based on Oakley's HSTN design, marking the company's first expansion away from Ray-Ban for its display-free glasses. Like the original models, the Oakley versions can make and take phone calls, play music, take pictures and video and use Meta's artificial intelligence to answer questions about the surrounding environment. The new versions, which start at $399 and go up to $499 for a limited edition model with gold-colored accents, include about double the battery life, video-recording at 3K resolution and water resistance. 'We are increasingly seeing performance use cases with the Ray-Bans like people wearing them on roller coasters, cycling and being around water, so we're trying to lean into that,' says Alex Himel, the company's vice president in charge of wearables, in an interview. Arriving at its second glasses brand was far from a sure thing. Meta's first glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, flopped in 2021. But its follow-up version in 2023 was a massive success, giving the social networking giant a real potential hardware stronghold in the artificial intelligence race. 'It was crazy. Popularity caught us by surprise a bit,' Himel said. The Ray-Bans were 'going to be the last display-less pair of glasses. We said we'll take two swings at it, and if it doesn't work we'll go all-in on augmented reality.' Instead, beyond the latest Oakley model, the company has a multi-year road map for the display-less category and is planning a follow-up pair of Oakley glasses based on the Sphera design for later this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That pair will be aimed at cyclists and have a centered camera. Friday's model has a camera positioned in the upper corner like the Ray-Ban version. The display-free glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. The company is planning to introduce higher-end glasses with a display to view notifications and the camera view finder later this year, Bloomberg News has reported. In 2027, it aims to roll out its first true augmented reality glasses, which will blend digital apps with the real world. Meta's form-factor has caught on, with several other technology companies working on competitors. Apple Inc. is planning to introduce its first glasses product at the end of 2026, Bloomberg News has reported. That device will operate similarly to the Meta product but better synchronize with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Inc. also sells glasses, but their current models lack cameras. Himel, who said Meta has sold millions of glasses and has a 'nice, increasing multiple' of purchases on a year-over-year basis each week, attributed the increased popularity to the Ray-Bans improving across a large number of 'small things.' He said the audio quality and microphones started to surpass standalone earbuds, while the camera and AI quality also improved. Still, Himel said battery life remains the 'number one complaint' about the Ray-Ban versions. The new Oakley models can run for 8 hours on a single charge, with the charging case holding 48 hours of juice. 'You should expect a 40% bump with these' he says, attributing the improvement to new battery chemistry and software optimizations — not larger battery packs. Like Ray-Ban, Oakley is owned by EssilorLuxottica SA, which calls Oakley its second most popular brand after Ray-Ban. Himel said Meta will roll out new brands under the EssilorLuxottica portfolio 'as fast as we can. 'We're going to have to move very quickly because in the world of fashion, stuff moves very quickly,' he says. 'The stuff that is a hit right now might not be a year from now. We need to be fast to hit all the brands that we'd like to.' The first Oakley model, becoming available for pre-order on July 11, will be the $499 limited edition pair. The $399 versions — which come in grey, black, brown and clear colors — will be released in the coming months. There will be versions with clear, transition and polarized lenses. Like with the Ray-Bans, users can swap the lenses for prescription optics. The glasses will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, according to Meta. (Updated with availability of new smart glasses in several countries. A previous version corrected the name of Meta executive Alex Himel.) Gurman writes for Bloomberg.
India Today
4 days ago
- India Today
Mark Zuckerberg teases major smart glasses announcement for June 20, what is coming?
Meta is at it again. It seems like that is company is preparing for another big play in the smart glasses space — this time with Oakley. The announcement was teased through a new Instagram account named '@oakleymeta', and the buzz only picked up steam after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oakley, and even Instagram's official handle reposted the teaser video. Though it doesn't reveal much, the caption, which says, 'The next evolution is coming on June 20', is enough to spark speculation. Will it be sport-focused glasses? Is there a new design twist when compared to Meta's previous attempts at smart glasses? We'll know soon collaboration, which looks like a shift from style to sport, will mark Meta's third outing with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica — the company that owns both Oakley and Ray-Ban. Unlike the previous Ray-Ban launches that leaned more towards fashion and everyday utility, the upcoming Oakley Meta glasses are rumoured to be more performance-driven, possibly aimed at athletes, cyclists and fitness earlier partnership with Ray-Ban gave us the Ray-Ban Stories in 2021, followed by the improved Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses in 2023. The latter was launched in India in 2025 at a starting price of Rs 29,900, offering features like Meta AI voice commands, real-time language translation, WhatsApp support, and even built-in cameras. The glasses paired with the Meta AI app, giving users the ability to edit photos, revisit interactions, and more — all hands-free. Though handy, the glasses were more about light AI and media use, not exactly made for running, cycling or intense outdoor activity. With Oakley, that could The rumoured Oakley x Meta smart glasses are codenamed Supernova 2 and are inspired by Oakley's Sphaera — sports sunglasses popular among multisport users. A possible design change could see the built-in camera move from the edge of the frame (seen on the Ray-Ban Meta glasses) to the centre, which could help with better point-of-view footage, especially when used during activities like cycling or there's still a big question for Indian users: is it coming here?As of now, there's no official word on Indian availability. While the Ray-Ban Meta glasses did launch in India, they came much later than in the US and Europe. Given the growing interest in wearables and AI-powered devices in the country, it wouldn't be surprising if the Oakley Meta glasses make it here eventually — just maybe not right now, all eyes are on June 20. We'll be keeping a close eye on Meta for the full reveal, including the specs, pricing and all the other details.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Meta teases smart glasses collaboration with Oakley; launch set for June 20
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tech major Meta is set to expand its smart glasses portfolio through a new collaboration with eyewear maker Oakley. A new Instagram handle, @oakleymeta, posted a teaser video with the Oakley and Meta logos side by side, much like the branding used for the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses . The video ended with 'The next evolution is coming on June 20.'Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reposted the teaser, adding to the anticipation, other senior executives shared the video as first entered the smart glasses space in 2021 with the launch of Ray-Ban Stories glasses that came with built-in speakers and a camera, but without any augmented reality features. The second-generation version, released in 2023 for $299, added a better camera, improved audio, and an AI like Ray-Ban, is owned by Italy-based eyewear conglomerate EssilorLuxottica. This collaboration is an extension of Meta's existing partnership with the to a report in January by news agency Bloomberg, the Oakley-Meta glasses will be based on the Oakley Sphaera model and may feature a centrally placed built-in camera, unlike the Ray-Ban Meta glasses , where the camera sits on the edge of the frame. Earlier this month Snap Inc., the parent company of ephemeral messaging app Snapchat, announced that it will launch immersive smart glasses called Specs in 2026. This move aligns with other Big Tech players eyeing the lucrative smart eyewear market , as part of their push to make the next big leap in consumer tech hardware.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Meta Platforms (META) Bets $14.3 Billion on ‘Superintelligence' to Secure AI Crown
Mark Zuckerberg is on a roll, and he's not slowing down. Back in April, Meta Platforms (META) delivered a blockbuster Q1, with a $42.32 billion revenue haul, up 16%, driven by AI-powered ad growth. The momentum seems to be going strong throughout Q2, with Meta recently announcing a $14.3 billion investment for a 49% stake in Scale AI, which will further solidify its leadership in the space. Meta also wants to have Scale CEO Alexandr Wang, spearhead a superintelligence lab. Let's unpack why this deal could be transformative for Meta. Confident Investing Starts Here: Scale AI Supercharges Meta's Product Lineup Meta is experiencing strong momentum in the AI space. In Q1, the company reported a 5% increase in ad impressions and a 10% rise in ad pricing, driven by enhanced targeting capabilities across Reels and Stories on Instagram and Facebook, which now serve a combined 3.43 billion daily active users. Meta AI, positioned as a competitor to ChatGPT, is approaching one billion monthly users and is already powering personalized content feeds and early-stage trials of AI-integrated smart glasses, highlighting Meta's unparalleled global reach. The potential addition of Scale AI, a leading data-labeling company valued at $29 billion, could further accelerate Meta's AI innovation. Scale AI generated $870 million in revenue last year and is on track to reach $2 billion this year, underscoring its significant role in refining machine learning models. When added to META's revenues, Scale appears value accretive. Scale's capabilities could directly support Meta's AI infrastructure and enhance applications like WhatsApp Business, which now serves over 100 million businesses and is expected to become a key driver of revenue growth as AI-driven customer engagement tools gain traction. For instance, AI-powered chatbots that anticipate customer needs could help small businesses drive sales. Additionally, Scale's data assets might elevate Meta's Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, enabling advanced features such as real-time translation or navigation that could rival offerings from competitors like Google's Gemini. A Regulatory Tightrope Walked with Finesse The decision to acquire a 49% non-voting stake in Scale AI appears to be a strategic move, particularly in an environment where regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech remains intense. Meta's prior acquisitions—such as Instagram and WhatsApp—continue to attract attention from antitrust authorities, and a full acquisition of Scale could have raised similar concerns. By allowing Scale to operate independently, Meta avoids potential antitrust issues while still gaining access to the company's talent, led by CEO Alexandr Wang, and its valuable data infrastructure. This approach mirrors recent investment strategies by Microsoft with OpenAI and Amazon with Anthropic, where influence is exercised without complete ownership. The structure not only preserves Scale's ability to serve a broad client base, including Meta's competitors like Alphabet (GOOGL), but also reduces regulatory pressure while enabling indirect advantages for Meta's AI development efforts. Wang's Superintelligence Lab Could be META's Game-Changer Meta is also bringing on Scale AI's CEO, 28-year-old Alexandr Wang, to lead a newly formed 50-person 'superintelligence lab'—its most ambitious AI initiative to date. Wang will be tasked with advancing efforts toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), the pursuit of AI systems that can exceed human performance across a wide range of tasks. Backed by Meta's projected $65 billion in 2025 capital expenditures and a reported 1.3 million GPUs, the lab—staffed with top talent from Google and DeepMind—has the potential to position Meta AI as a global leader in next-generation AI development. Scale's robust data pipeline is also expected to accelerate the advancement of Meta's Llama 4 models, addressing concerns raised by developers and strengthening its competitiveness against offerings from OpenAI. The integration of advanced AI could unlock entirely new revenue streams, such as AI-powered e-commerce features that enable Instagram to recommend personalized outfit combinations in real time. However, there are challenges to navigate. Ongoing concerns around compensation for gig workers, labeling AI data, and the potential for client conflicts—given Scale's broad customer base—could present reputational or operational risks. Still, with Meta's AI infrastructure already fueling measurable growth, the addition of Wang and the focus on AGI could reinforce its leadership position, making Meta one of the most influential companies in the evolving AI landscape. The Valuation Remains Dead-Cheap What stands out most in all of this is that Meta's valuation remains relatively modest, trading at just 27x earnings per share (EPS), despite benefiting from significant earnings growth tailwinds. Notably, Wall Street appears to be assigning little—if any—value to the company's AI initiatives, which is consistent with a long-standing pattern of conservative pricing around Meta's stock. While the market has often underestimated Meta's potential, the core story lies in its sustained and accelerating growth. For long-term investors, value creation seems likely to continue, even in the absence of multiple expansion. Perhaps more surprising than the valuation itself is the disconnect between analyst forecasts and the company's actual performance. Current consensus expects only 7% EPS growth for the year, despite Meta delivering 37% growth in Q1 alone and 60% growth in the prior full year. Even mid-range forecasts projecting growth in the mid-teens appear conservative, given Meta's historical trajectory and the accelerating impact of its AI initiatives. The company consistently beats earnings expectations, yet analyst estimates have remained essentially unchanged, rendering forward-looking multiples less meaningful due to their misalignment with Meta's underlying momentum. Is META a Good Stock to Buy? Wall Street remains broadly optimistic on Meta, with the stock carrying a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 42 Buy, three Hold, and just one Sell recommendation over the past three months. However, the average 12-month price target of $699.81 suggests a limited 2.5% upside from current levels. This apparent disconnect reinforces the view that the market may be underappreciating Meta's underlying earnings growth trajectory and the potential impact of its ongoing AI initiatives. Meta's Strategic AI Bet Set to Sustain Tech Powerhouse Meta's $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI underscores its confidence and ambition in leading the next wave of AI innovation. With strong revenue growth across its core platforms and nearly one billion users engaging with Meta AI, the company is operating from a position of considerable strength. The addition of Scale's rich data assets and the launch of Alexandr Wang's superintelligence lab are poised to enhance Meta's capabilities across advertising, messaging, wearables, and the metaverse—unlocking significant new revenue opportunities. While regulatory scrutiny and ethical considerations remain ongoing challenges, Meta's strategic approach and execution continue to solidify its position as a key player in the AI-driven future. Despite this momentum, META shares still appear undervalued, presenting a compelling opportunity for long-term investors, particularly given Wall Street's continued conservative stance on the company's potential.
