California — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push into wearable AI got off to a shaky start this week after two embarrassing glitches during a live demo of the company’s new AI-powered smart glasses.
The $799 glasses, which can text, stream, and provide real-time instructions, were meant to showcase Meta’s leap into augmented reality. Instead, they highlighted the challenges of execution.
- First glitch: During a cooking demo, the glasses repeatedly skipped crucial recipe steps, frustrating the user.
- Second glitch: When Meta’s CTO called Zuckerberg on WhatsApp, the glasses failed to connect via Meta’s neural wristband, leaving him unable to answer.
Despite these hiccups, Zuckerberg insisted that smart glasses are the future of computing, noting that Meta has already sold over 2 million pairs in partnership with Ray-Ban since 2023.
However, critics say Meta is spreading itself too thin. In just three years, the company has pivoted from the Metaverse, to VR headsets, and now AI eyewear, while also investing $15 billion into AI data centers.
Meanwhile, Meta faces mounting protests over online safety, with activists accusing the company of ignoring its responsibility toward children’s well-being.
With glitches on stage and unrest outside its offices, the question remains: Can Meta deliver the future while still struggling with its past?
