Meta has upgraded its AI-powered smart glasses with two new features: enhanced conversation clarity and visual music matching. The updates will roll out first in the U.S. and Canada for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN models, with broader availability of the music feature in several other regions.
Improved Hearing in Noisy Environments
The most practical addition is the ability to amplify the voice of the person you’re talking to using the glasses’ built-in open-ear speakers. This feature, previewed at Meta’s Connect conference, is designed to make conversations easier to follow in loud settings like restaurants, bars, or crowded commutes.
Users can adjust the amplification level with a swipe on the glasses’ temple or through the device settings, allowing for precise customization based on the surrounding noise. This moves smart glasses beyond simple notifications into the realm of practical assistive technology.
Visual Music Matching: A Gimmick with Potential
The other update is more experimental: the glasses can now identify objects in your view and play related music. For example, if you look at an album cover, the glasses will play a song by that artist. Similarly, a Christmas tree with presents could trigger holiday music.
This feature is currently more of a novelty, but it highlights Meta’s vision of seamless integration between the physical world and digital apps. It demonstrates how augmented reality can respond to visual input in real time, though its usefulness beyond entertainment remains to be seen.
Competition and Broader Trends
Meta isn’t alone in this space. Apple’s AirPods already offer a Conversation Boost mode for clearer speech focus, and the Pro models include a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature. This indicates a growing trend of integrating AI into wearable devices to improve situational awareness and communication.
The Spotify music feature is currently available in English in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K., and the U.S.
These updates position Meta’s smart glasses as more than just a fashion statement. They are evolving into assistive tools that bridge the gap between digital experiences and real-world interactions.
