Key takeaways

• Smart glasses are defined as spectacles with a Bluetooth or wired connection
• AR glasses and AI glasses are two of the most popular kinds of smart glasses
• AR glasses contain a display and project information into user’s field of vision

Why do people confuse smart glasses, AI glasses and AR glasses?

Smart glasses have their origins in the 1960s, but arguably went mainstream in 2012 with the launch of Google Glass. ‘Smart glasses’ usually denotes a connection to a smartphone.

It is now an umbrella category for artificial intelligence glasses (AI glasses), augmented reality glasses (AR glasses) and audio-only glasses.

Smart glasses were conceived in laboratories decades ago, as engineers experimented with ways to make information more accessible on-the-go, or put portable screens in front of our eyes.

The launch of Google Glass, unveiled in 2012, was one of the first mainstream versions of smart glasses that entered the wider consumer consciousness.

However, the features offered on the device (such as a built-in display and bone-conducting audio) were expensive to produce and came with what some said was an awkward-looking design. When it launched, Google Glass cost $1500 and was only made available to a handful of consumers and developers.

Because this combination of price and features was widely reported, consumers could be forgiven for thinking that all smart glasses must have a display and high cost. 

But in the intervening years the necessary components and sensors have become much smaller and cheaper, with battery life that can go well over a day’s use. This means new design categories are now needed to define the difference.

What can be confusing is that the terminology of smart glasses, AR glasses and AI glasses can be used interchangeably, as there are a lot of crossovers between the different categories and smart glasses no longer represent one single product.

Instead, spectacles that carry a Bluetooth (or wired) connection to smartphones or computers can take on a variety of different designs and use cases, allowing users to choose the form factor and functionality that suits them best.

What are AR glasses?

Augmented reality (AR) glasses are a wearable technology that projects images, virtual objects or large displays directly into a user’s field of vision. 

This means AR glasses can be broken down into two categories: 

• Lightweight HUD glasses - deliver discreet notifications or prompts into the user’s field of vision
• Heavier, portable monitor style - more immersive headsets that project virtual screens or objects into the user’s view - these can vary in size from 70g smart glasses all the way up to more bulky mixed-reality headsets

By combining digital information with physical surroundings, AR glasses allow the user to interact with their environment in different ways. 

The technology is used in two distinct ways: professionals who need to augment their work environment and consumers wanting to mimic the smartphone experience in spectacles.

Enterprise / professional AR glasses use 

• Factory workers accessing real-time information within their field of view - allowing them to be less distracted by having to look down at a phone or tablet. Research published in 2015 by DHL showed a 25% increase in factory picking accuracy when users were given AR glasses.
• Public speakers - augmented reality spectacles can project a live autocue in front of the presenter’s eyes, without needing bulky autocues
• Field technicians - wiring or maintenance diagrams can be overlaid into real-world scenarios, allowing for hands-free updates to complex tasks. Boeing integrated this technology into its production department, and cut task time by 20%
• In the future, they could be used to allow pilots or surgeons to get access to critical information quickly without needing to avert their eyes.
• In fact, early trials have already shown that some surgical navigation can be improved using AR glasses.

Consumer uses for AR glasses 

• Travelers or gamers wanting large-screen experiences on the go, projecting large virtual displays in front of their eyes.
• Real-time prompts for things like autocue or turn-by-turn navigation
• Notifications or updates from apps without needing to use a smartphone

AR glasses traditionally work by combining multiple sensors to augment the world you see around you. Cameras and microphones work in conjunction with a small projector to create complex information that’s delivered in front of the user’s eyes.

The information is often delivered to the eye by manipulating light through the glass inside the lens of the AR glasses, before bouncing into the retina of the user. 

In HUD glasses, this takes the form of smaller notifications - such as being informed of emails or updates from a smartphone - or larger tasks, such as projecting virtual computer monitors in front of your eyes.

In other models, AR glasses project large, virtual displays - with some companies, such as RayNeo, promising screens of over 200 inches floating in front of the user’s eyes. These are designed for uses like providing immersive movie watching or gaming sessions or giving professionals additional screens for their computer without the need for bulky monitors.

However, the additional functionality found inside AR glasses can make them heavier - the need for the extra projector and battery life to power the displays can make them less comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Consumers are also advised not to wear them when doing things that need concentration, such as driving, as notifications or live updates could be distracting.

Some more powerful AR glasses still need a physical tether to a smartphone or laptop, meaning users need to manage a wire connecting the spectacles to an external device.

Pros and cons of AR glasses

Pros of AR glasses

• Real-time information beamed straight into user’s eyes
• Access to hands-free information
• Improved efficiency for businesses
• Discreet, large screen displays for movies or gaming

Cons of AR glasses

• Extra sensors add weight and can make AR glasses uncomfortable
• Battery life is impacted by projectors
• Some models need a wired connection to external devices
• Extended use can cause eye strain

What are AI glasses? 

AI glasses are lightweight spectacles that contain an AI assistant embedded within. They usually communicate without a display, instead using microphones and speakers inside the device that allow the user to interact with an AI platform.

AI glasses generally don’t come with an inbuilt display, to be less distracting and allow the user to be more present in day-to-day living, enabling more lightweight designs with longer-lasting batteries.

They will commonly also come with a front-facing camera and privacy light (LED), to allow the user to ask contextual questions of their surroundings (such as asking the specs to translate documents or recognize objects on command) or take pictures and video without needing to reach for a smartphone.

The embedded audio in the arms of the spectacles allows the user to unobtrusively listen to music or, when combined with the microphone, have a phone conversation, while keeping their ears unblocked so they can still hear what’s going on in their surroundings.

AI glasses contain an advanced chipset, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 - to provide the computational power needed. 

This chip allows the glasses to process commands in real time, communicate with the user and process the images on-device to keep data secure and functionality simple.

There are many different brands of AI glasses out there, such as the HTC VIVE Eagle or Meta Ray-Ban, and each will come with its own artificial intelligence onboard to power user interactions.

For instance, Meta uses its own AI, whereas HTC VIVE Eagle uses VIVE AI as well as allowing connection to Google’s Gemini or OpenAI GPT.

Pros and cons of AI glasses

Pros of AI glasses

• Lighter design, easier to wear
• Access to hands-free information
• Music playback on the go
• Cameras for easy photo and video recording

Cons of AI glasses

• Battery life drops through music playback
• Still need smartphone connection for full range of features

What’s the difference between AR glasses and AI glasses? 

The difference between AR and AI glasses comes down to the functionality they offer - AR glasses tend to be a more immersive, vision-focused experience to push information to users when they need it.AI glasses are an assistant, ready to deliver information when the user needs it and allowing them to be more present in day-to-day tasks.

Both AI and AR glasses will often possess similar technology, such as inbuilt cameras, speakers in the spectacle arms and high-end onboard processors to deliver real-time information.

However, how they use that functionality can differ, which is why users need to be clear on their desired use case.

AR glasses offer wider functionality, depending on the needs of the user. They can either give discreet prompts, such as autocue or visual directions when walking, or more immersive experiences, like large, virtual screens to enjoy movies or gaming while travelling.

AI glasses rely on the inbuilt artificial intelligence assistant to provide information - users will either touch the side of the glasses or say the command phrase to activate the functionality. Because the information is delivered via the inbuilt speakers, users can remain present in their surroundings and not be distracted by visual information floating in front of their eyes.

AI glasses are generally lighter and therefore more comfortable to wear, weighing around 50g. AR glasses are, on average, heavier, with many models starting at 60-70g, and some will come with a wire, tethering them to another device like a smartphone or laptop.

Therefore users should always think carefully about what they want their glasses to do - if they value lightweight, discreet access to information or just want hands-free photography, AI glasses are a great choice.

If they want more expansive information delivered in front of their vision, or like the idea of an immersive screen on the go, then AR glasses are worth considering.

AR Glasses AI Glasses

Primary function In-vision information Discreet AI assistance

Weight 65g+ Around 50g

Battery (intermittent use) 18h+ 24h+

Display microLED or LED displays None

Wired/tethered connection In some models No

How can I connect to Google with smart glasses? 

Since the introduction of Gemini, some smart glasses are able to connect to Google services to control their phone or listen to information from apps like Gmail or Google Calendar.

Use case: HTC VIVE Eagle combines its own proprietary artificial intelligence (VIVE AI) with connection to Google’s Gemini (or people can choose to use OpenAI GPT).

The user is able to talk to Google’s AI assistant to answer more complex queries or get access to information from the suite of Google products, or use Google Assistant to access calendars, play music or control your phone without taking it out of your pocket.

Support for Gemini does not, by itself, mean that the glasses can access a user’s Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, or other Google services. Check the specific product features, account requirements, and permissions before describing those integrations.