Google Reenters Wearables With Voice-First Glasses Built With Warby Parker And Gentle Monster

Google used its I/O keynote to announce a return to wearable eyewear, revealing a new line of voice-controlled glasses made in partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The company said the frames, created with help from Samsung, will sync with both Android and iPhone devices and reach the market later this year.

The products, which Google is calling “audio glasses,” are designed to let users speak commands and complete tasks through Google’s suite of services, including its Gemini AI. In a live demonstration, an employee ordered a drink simply by talking to the frames while the glasses were paired to a handset. Google framed the effort as focused on hands-free interactions rather than head-up displays or visual overlays.

Google has experimented with smart eyewear before. Its earlier Glass project met with public resistance and never achieved mainstream use, but the sector has shifted since then. Several major technology firms — most notably Meta — along with a wide array of startups, have been investing in variants of connected spectacles and audio-first wearables.

A wearable-technology analyst said the new approach could appeal to consumers who want convenience without the social friction that dogged earlier attempts. But adoption will hinge on comfort, battery life, pricing and how well the devices integrate with other apps and services, the analyst added.

Google declined to release prices at I/O, but emphasized the design partnerships as a way to blend fashion and function. The company says the glasses will arrive before the end of the year, and that further details on features and availability will be shared in the months ahead.