Meta Expands Smart Glasses Line With Prescription-First Ray-Ban Models

Meta is expanding its wearable AI strategy with two new prescription-first Ray-Ban smart glasses models, codenamed 'Scriber' and 'Blazer.' These represent the first models purpose-built for prescription users rather than adapted for them, and they'll be sold through optical stores via Meta's partner EssilorLuxottica. The launch follows Meta's $3.5 billion investment for a 3% stake in the eyewear giant and builds on the success of selling 7 million smart glasses units in 2025. The new glasses are expected to feature deeper integration with Meta AI, allowing users to converse with the assistant while it processes visual input from the glasses' camera for contextual responses.

This move signals a major strategic shift for Meta, which is deprioritizing virtual reality and the metaverse in favor of lightweight, always-on AI wearables. The company sees smart glasses as a market where it has an early lead over rivals like Apple, OpenAI, and Google, all of whom are developing competing devices. The industry-wide trend shows tech giants moving away from bulky VR headsets (like Microsoft discontinuing HoloLens) toward practical AI glasses that blend into daily life. While gaming may sustain VR via devices like PlayStation VR2, the mainstream focus has clearly shifted to AI-powered wearables that offer ambient computing without being intrusive.