Ray-Ban Meta Glasses with AI assistant now also available in Germany

The US social media company Meta Platforms is expanding the AI function of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses to seven other European countries. Meta is also introducing live translations for all users of Ray-Ban smart glasses. The company announced this in a blog post on Wednesday. Meta will be available in “all of our supported countries in the EU” from next week, it said. People in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland will be able to interact with the AI assistant Meta AI. They will receive answers to general questions by voice input.

Meta launched its AI technology in Europe in March. Meta AI was integrated into WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger and Instagram – initially as a chat function. The launch was originally announced for the middle of last year, but was delayed “due to the ongoing complexity of regulatory systems in Europe”, according to Meta. European regulators had raised concerns about data protection and privacy. In the United States, Meta AI was already launched in 2023.

The AI assistant has also been available for the smart Ray-Ban Meta glasses in the USA for some time, as well as in Canada and Australia. The smart glasses, which are the result of a collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban, were launched on the market just over a year and a half ago. At the end of last year, Meta began introducing certain AI functions for users of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses in France, Italy, Ireland, and Spain. They were already a big seller without AI. The manufacturer announced in February that it would be massively expanding production. Just a few days ago, it also became public that Ray-Ban glasses from Meta with a display in the lens are to be launched on the market before the end of the year – at a hefty retail price.

Numerous new functions

Meta also announced on Wednesday that the expansion will also include a live translation function, which will be widely introduced in the company's markets. The company also announced new color lens combinations for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, as well as wider availability for some features.

Live translation was first introduced in October last year, and Meta rolled it out in selected countries in December. The feature is now available in all markets where Ray-Ban Meta eyewear is available. Conversations can be held in English, French, Italian, or Spanish and a real-time translation in the preferred language can be heard through the glasses – even without Wi-Fi or network connection if the language pack has been downloaded in advance.

Also, available now are new color lens combinations for the Ray-Ban Meta Skyler eyewear model. This is now available in glossy chalk gray with Transitions Sapphire lenses, while glossy black can now be combined with clear or green tinted lenses.

Meta also highlighted other functions. For example, the Live function, which allows the AI assistant to see what users are looking at, will “soon be generally available in the USA and Canada” and enable a more natural conversation. It will also soon be possible to send and receive messages and photos via Instagram on the glasses, as well as make audio and video calls. Access to music apps such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Shazam and Apple Music will soon be available beyond the United States and Canada. However, asking the AI assistant to play music or ask for information about the music will only be possible for those whose “default language is set to English”.

(akn)