Google is reportedly partnering with Gucci to make a pair of AI smart glasses stylish enough that people will actually want to wear them. according to reutersGucci’s parent company Kering plans to launch the glasses sometime in 2027.
Google’s first pair of Android XR glasses, “Project Aura”, is expected to launch this year. They look basically the same as Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, with thick, black plastic frames. They will mark Google’s second attempt at smart glasses, following the failure of Google Glass a decade ago.
Last year, Google also announced Glass partnerships with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, but neither brand is as high profile as Gucci. Unlike many other tech products, smart glasses need to be stylish to take off, and a partnership with a luxury brand like Gucci could help Google compete with the Meta Ray-Ban line-up. Partnerships with fashion brands also allow tech companies to put a distinct brand name on their glasses — as Snap CEO Evan Spiegel recently said, “I think a meta brand is not something people want anywhere near their faces.”
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