The entry point for AI agents, Google will eventually make glasses too?

After Apple and Meta, is Google also going to make smart glasses?

At this year's Google I/O conference in the spring, Google showcased its multimodal virtual assistant Astra—although this project is still in its early stages, it is considered the future of Google AI. During the demonstration of Astra, one item kept appearing: glasses.

For years, Google has been developing a variety of smart facial devices, from Glass to Cardboard, and then to the translation glasses of Project Iris showcased two years ago. Analysts believe that Astra needs smart glasses, and Google may therefore manufacture some.

At a press conference before the release of Gemini 2.0, Bibo Xu, product manager of the Google DeepMind team, stated:

“A small number of people will test Astra through prototype glasses, and we believe this is one of the most powerful and intuitive ways to experience this artificial intelligence.”

Xu also revealed:

“We will soon release more information about the glasses product itself.”

Analysts believe that this indicates Google plans to launch some hardware that supports Astra, and smart glasses are particularly suitable for what Google is trying to achieve with Astra:

Google hopes users will envision Astra as an always-online assistant in their lives, and there is nothing better than integrating audio, video, and displays onto the user's face—especially if users want an always-on experience.

In a new video showcasing Astra's Gemini 2.0 features, a tester uses Astra to remember the security code for an apartment building, check the weather, and more. In one scene, the tester sees a bus speeding by and asks Astra if that bus will pass near Chinatown… While all these tasks can be accomplished with a smartphone, it would feel much more natural through a wearable device