Facebook Announces the Development of New Wearable Augmented Reality

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a partnership with Luxottica, the company that owns Ray-Ban, to develop new wearable augmented reality smart glasses. 

While details about the product are still scarce, Zuckerberg said during a conference call with reporters that the glasses would be part of the company's ongoing efforts to make AR more accessible to the masses.

"We're passionate about exploring devices that can give people better ways to connect with those closest to them," Zuckerberg said. "Wearable AR is an exciting area of exploration, and we're excited to partner with Luxottica to bring a pair of smart glasses to the market that we think people will love."

Facebook’s Investments into Wearable Augmented Reality

The partnership is the latest move by Facebook to position itself as a major player in the AR space. The company has been investing heavily in AR and VR technology in recent years, and has made a number of acquisitions in the space, including AR headset maker Oculus.

Facebook has also been experimenting with AR experiences in a number of its own products, including Instagram and Messenger. The company recently launched AR filters for Instagram that allow users to try on virtual makeup, and has also been testing AR ads in the platform's news feed.

The smart glasses being developed with Luxottica are expected to be the first in a series of wearable AR devices from Facebook. While no official release date has been announced, the glasses are expected to hit the market in the coming years.