Google Smart Glasses: Warby Parker & Gentle Monster Partnership

Google's recent introduction of AI smart glasses, running on the Android XR platform, was among many announcements at Google I/O. Google's partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to design the new smart glasses is particularly noteworthy.

This collaboration is seen as a strategy to avoid repeating past mistakes, referencing Google Glass. The idea is that if people are going to wear computers on their faces, the devices need to be aesthetically pleasing. Warby Parker and Gentle Monster are known for creating glasses that are attractive and affordable to millennials and Gen Z.

Statements on the Partnership

Sameer Samat, president of Google’s Android Ecosystem, said that Warby Parker has been innovative with their designs and consumer retail experience, and Google is thrilled to partner with them. Samat believes that between Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, the designs will be great, and people will feel proud to wear them.

Focus on Wearability

Wearables should not be treated as mini smartphones. People want to look good, even when viewing AR content. Smart glasses might be the best way to integrate generative AI like Google Gemini into hardware. Compared to other AI devices, smart glasses may be a safer product bet.

Smartwatches and wireless earbuds are common, but glasses occupy a significant portion of the face and are a key part of personal identification. AR devices worn on the face need to be appealing. The better they look, the less important the tech features become. Google is outsourcing style strategies to companies that understand design.

Pricing and Adoption

To ensure adoption, smart glasses prices should be reasonable. Google may be able to undercut rivals by leveraging Warby Parker and Gentle Monster’s direct-to-consumer experience to keep prices down. If the price is reasonable, an extra charge for AI could be seen as a perk. This could also benefit smaller eyewear brands, with 'smart' becoming a standard category.

Google is betting that people will wear technology if it resembles something they would choose to wear anyway.