Meta just announced a slew of new updates for its Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. CEO Mark Zuckerberg just dropped an Instagram reel showing off a new cat-eye frame style for the glasses and a video calling feature. You can also now connect the glasses with Apple Music, and last but not least, the multimodal AI assistant is live for everyone in the US and Canada.
You can peep a pretty clear demo of the video calling feature from Zuckerberg’s reel. In it, he talks to Eva Chen, who runs fashion at Instagram, about the new Skyler frames and… chain lengths, of all things. The existing Wayfarer and Headliner models are also getting some new colors. The Headliner, which has rounder lenses, is also getting a low-bridge fit for folks who have issues with glasses slipping down their face.
As for video calling, you can call up friends or family via both WhatsApp and Messenger. Meta’s blog notes that you might not see this feature right away, however, as it’s rolling out more gradually.
Another feature not mentioned in the blog is Apple Music compatibility. However, the feature appeared this morning in the Meta View app, which pairs with the glasses. The instructions note that you’ll be able to control Apple Music hands-free to play any song, playlist, station, or artist. You can also request recommendations based on your listening history.
Lastly, Meta rolled out an early access program for its multimodal AI back in December. Starting today, it’s rolling out to everyone who has a pair of the glasses in the US and Canada in beta. The feature allows you to take pictures with the glasses and have Meta’s AI give you more context. For instance, you’ll be able to ask it to identify a plant species, come up with Instagram captions, and translate a sign written in a foreign language.
