Samsung Electronics unveiled artificial intelligence (AI) smart glasses co-developed with Google on the 19th (local time), challenging the global market led by Meta. It comes one year after Samsung Electronics and Google released their AI glasses collaboration called "Project Shoreline." The new smart glasses are scheduled to launch in the second half of this year, with detailed specifications to be announced later.
Samsung Electronics attended Google's annual developer conference, Google I/O 2026, held at the Mountain View headquarters in California, and unveiled two AI smart glasses co-developed with Google.
The two smart glasses are a pair of smart sunglasses created with the fashion brand Gentle Monster and smart eyeglasses made with Warby Parker. The smart glasses combine Samsung Electronics' hardware technology, Google's personalized AI services, and the designs of Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. They are lightweight for seamless, all-day wear. The smart sunglasses feature Gentle Monster's distinctive oval shape, while the smart eyeglasses are designed in a round shape. Following last year's I/O, where only partial-function prototypes were shown, this marks the first unveiling of the final product designs.
Samsung Electronics defined the newly introduced smart glasses as a "companion" device that supports core functions of Galaxy AI phones. The new smart glasses do not have a display, but they include speakers, a camera, and microphones, enabling real-time understanding of the user's context and hands-free execution of various convenient features using voice only. They are called a companion device because they are designed to let users enjoy advanced AI experiences in daily life without taking out a smartphone.
At the core of the smart glasses' operation is Google's AI model Gemini. Users can summon Google AI Gemini linked to their smartphone to receive navigation to a destination without looking at the phone, and they can get nearby cafe recommendations or place drink orders easily using only voice. In addition to real-time voice translation that reflects the conversational partner's tone, the device reads out translations of text the user is viewing, such as menus or signs. It also summarizes messages received on the smartphone and allows users to add calendar events by voice without separate actions. In particular, the camera built into the smart glasses lets users instantly capture what they are looking at, making it easier to record precious everyday moments.
Junghyun Kim, vice president of the MX Business at Samsung Electronics, said, "These AI smart glasses are an important milestone that expands Samsung's AI vision," adding, "We will focus on extending the Galaxy ecosystem experience, grounded in Samsung's mobile leadership and collaboration with partners, to deliver more meaningful user experiences."
Shahram Izadi, Google's vice president for Android XR, said, "The new smart glasses embody Google and Samsung's shared vision to make AI more useful in everyday life," adding, "By combining Samsung's hardware leadership with premium designs from eyewear partners, we will provide a natural hands-free experience."
Gentle Monster CEO Kim Hanguk said, "AI smart glasses are products where the fusion of technology and emotion matters most," adding, "We are pleased to introduce Gentle Monster's experimental design to the new AI era through collaboration with Samsung and Google." Dave Gilboa, Warby Parker's co-founder and CEO, said, "Eyeglasses are the most personal product, so every element must feel natural," adding, "Through this collaboration, we will combine our design philosophy with new technology to deliver an innovative user experience."