Google has come a long way since the days of Google Glass. During Google I/O this week, Google and Samsung unveiled their new AI Intelligent Eyewear: phone-connected smart glasses that use Google’s Gemini and are based on the Android XR platform.
The companies say these glasses mark the next step in everyday wearable computing. These days, smart glasses aren’t as bulky and obvious as when they first came on the scene; sure enough, this take blends right in with the everyday smart glasses of 2026. That’s because the initial lineup was designed in partnership with the glasses companies Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.
AI Intelligent Eyewear will feature built-in speakers, mics, and cameras. (That last bit is a “for better or worse” kind of thing, as smart glasses are now being used as tools of extortion.) Users will be able to snap photos, get turn-by-turn directions, hear notification summaries, and more. Gemini integration means they can easily dictate message replies and ask quick questions without picking up their phones, and real-time translation will handle spoken language or the written word, such as on a menu or street sign.
Google and Samsung say the glasses will be compatible with both the Pixel and Galaxy ecosystems, though basic use should also work with other Android phones and iPhones.
The companies plan to launch the first audio-only models in fall 2026 in select markets, with display-equipped versions to follow later. Details on pricing, regional availability, and hardware specs (including battery life, camera resolution, or processors) are not yet public.
