'They change my life': smart glasses gain traction

Paris - Smart glasses are becoming increasingly mainstream, serving as both a vital tool for the visually impaired and a high-tech accessory for capturing travel memories. This growth is driven by intensifying competition and a proliferation of AI-powered features.

They can instantly respond to voice commands; recognise what the user is looking at; take photos and videos; receive calls; translate languages; and play music through earpieces integrated into the arms.

“They are constantly changing my life!” says Colette Dentelle, 83, who is visually impaired and uses a white cane. She asks her Ray-Ban Meta glasses to guide her to the bus stop.

“They allow me to get around and do my shopping by telling me what is written on tins and the price on labels,” she adds.

When Ms Dentelle loses her keys, her connected device finds them with a simple question. “This allows me to remain independent,” she concludes.

Dynamic sales

According to the firm Omdia, 8.7 million artificial intelligence glasses were sold worldwide in 2025.

Global shipments of smart glasses (without a visual display) tripled (+210 percent) in the first quarter of 2026, according to market research firm Counterpoint.

The American group Meta has maintained its dominant position with its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta models. These were developed with the global optics leader, the Franco-Italian company EssilorLuxottica. According to an analysis published in June, its market share reached nearly 84 percent for the quarter.

While the US remains the world's leading market for smart glasses, competition is accelerating in China (with its manufacturers Xiaomi, Huawei, Rokid) and India. These are two rapidly expanding markets with plummeting prices.

“Technology is evolving very quickly, much like the mobile phone market where new generations are constantly being released, so we are cautious with our orders,” reports a Parisian optician. He prefers to source Meta glasses on demand for his clients rather than building up stock.

Rodeo, jetski and privacy

His latest sales include: “an American living in Paris who practises rodeo and plans to film herself on horseback.” Before her, there was “a film producer and quite a few tourists.”

“I sold half of my stock of 10 pairs in a month and a half this summer,” he notes. “If we don't sell optical lenses with them, it becomes a break-even operation for us, as we have to match the prices displayed on the manufacturer's website.”

“I wouldn't have paid out of my own pocket, but my health insurance covered the full amount,” which was 500 euros including corrective sun lenses, admits Ayoub Benheddi, a 24-year-old Parisian engineer.

He used the first generation of Ray-Ban Meta to “film hands-free” and “post on social media” about his travels, his trips “on a jet-ski or scooter,” and his “football games with friends.” However, an arm broke during a match. This was before the Oakley Meta model, which is better suited for sports, was released last summer.

Other drawbacks, according to him, include “unexceptional battery life” and the fact that “the recording automatically stops after three minutes. This might be for privacy reasons, but it is a bit restrictive.”

Furthermore, he explains to AFP, “when you activate the camera, a light indicator is supposed to turn on to show it is recording. I know people who disable this light. Therefore, some people take the liberty of recording, creating content, and filming people without their consent.”

On the Reddit forum, the issue of privacy is widely debated.

One user admits to “trying to record discreetly” for “his own safety,” in order to “have evidence in case I need to call a lawyer.”

Another worries about the glasses being worn “during gynaecological consultations.” “Watch out for paranoia,” retort the more convinced users.

To address this issue, an application called Nearby Glasses has recently been developed to alert users when smart glasses are nearby.