2025: A Turning Point in Wearable Technology
Years from now, I’ll look back at 2025 as the year when a fundamental shift happened in wearable technology. Over the last decade, wearables have often been synonymous with health and fitness tracking. While that association continues to dominate, this year marks a significant evolution: a growing focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into these devices.
The most prominent example of this evolution can be observed in the rebranding of what were once called smart glasses. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this past January, I noticed a buzz around Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which have seen unexpected success. The event floor was abuzz with both audio-only and display glasses promising hands-free and immersive computing experiences. Notably, many companies encouraged me to ditch the term “smart glasses,” opting instead for “AI glasses.”
Initially, I thought this terminology was just clever marketing. After all, smart glasses have long been recognized as tech gadgets, a category that gained notoriety due to the public backlash against Google Glass a decade ago. However, upon deeper investigation, I found a clear intention behind this terminology shift. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that glasses serve as the ideal form factor for AI, merging functionality and style. With these AI glasses, users can seamlessly interact with AI—whether it’s asking questions, capturing images, or enjoying audio content.
This rebranding isn’t limited to Meta. In recent demonstrations of Android XR features, Google introduced distinctions between AI glasses, XR headsets, and a hybrid category. According to Google, AI glasses are designed to be lightweight and stylish, where interacting with their AI system, Gemini, takes center stage. Meanwhile, devices that resemble glasses but function like headsets fall into a different category. Regardless of semantics, one clear narrative prevails: AI is emerging as the game-changing application that could redefine this market.
Beyond glasses, another innovative category of wearables is emerging: always-listening pendants and pins. Products like Bee AI—recently acquired by Amazon—and Friend, an AI necklace with a provocative subway ad campaign, exemplify this trend. Gadgets like the Plaud NotePin and several startups competing in this space are gaining traction, offering versatile functionality. Some devices even allow users to whisper voice memos into smart rings. These wearables aim to accompany users throughout their day, leveraging AI to summarize meetings, voice notes, and conversations.
Reflecting on this shift, a conversation from August with Sandeep Waraich, Google’s product lead for Pixel Wearables, resonates strongly. He highlighted that wearables represent the “only one device in our computing lives that is guaranteed on-body presence.” This means that unlike a smartphone, which can be put away, wearables ensure constant interaction with AI. For AI systems to perform optimally, they must be deeply integrated into daily life, making wearables an ideal platform.
While this rapid evolution towards AI-infused wearables is exciting, it also raises important questions about privacy and data security. As companies continue to explore the intersection of wearables and AI, it remains crucial for consumers to stay informed. The narrative indicates that “wearables” and “AI” are becoming increasingly intertwined, a trend that seems poised to continue as tech companies recognize the potential of wearables as vehicles for advanced AI applications.
Image Credit: www.theverge.com
