Google takes a page out of Meta’s book, announces new audio-powered smart glasses

Google takes a page out of Meta’s book, announces new audio-powered smart glasses Lucas Ropek 12:15 PM PDT · May 19, 2026 Google is getting (back) into the smart glasses game. At Google I/O on Tuesday, the company announced a new partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to produce a new line of AI-powered glasses. The company says that the devices will be built to pair with Android and iOS devices, and were designed in collaboration with Samsung. They will be available later this year, the company said. Google is calling the new devices “audio glasses,” in that users will be able to issue verbal commands to them, and get things done via its ecosystem of apps and services, including Gemini. The user simply talks to their glasses (the demo shared on Tuesday involved a Googler ordering a coffee online by merely talking to it), and the device, when synced, complies. Google has dabbled in smart glasses a number of times over the years. It notoriously launched Google Glass years ago, which ultimately helped spawn the derogatory term “glassholes.” The smartglasses space has changed a little bit since then, however. Lately, major companies – most notably Meta — and a small army of startups and smaller firms, have invested in the space. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Lucas Ropek Senior Writer, TechCrunch May 27 Athens, Greece StrictlyVC Athens is up next. Hear unfiltered insights straight from Europe’s tech leaders and connect with the people shaping what’s ahead. Lock in your spot before it’s gone. Most Popular Elon Musk has lost his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI Tim Fernholz Users turn to jailbreaking their older Kindles as Amazon ends support Lauren Forristal OpenAI launches ChatGPT for personal finance, will let you connect bank accounts Ivan Mehta US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai OpenAI is reportedly preparing legal action against Apple; it wouldn’t be the first partner to feel burned Connie Loizos How to turn off Instagram’s new Instants feature and retract photos you accidentally shared Aisha Malik Musk’s xAI is running nearly 50 gas turbines unchecked at its Mississippi data center Tim De Chant X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram youTube Mastodon Threads Bluesky TechCrunchStaffContact UsAdvertiseCrunchboard JobsSite Map Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyRSS Terms of UseCode of Conduct AnthropicSAPSamsungMarc LoreTechCrunch DisruptTech LayoffsChatGPT © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC.