Meta Opens Smart Glasses Platform to Developers and AI

On the second day of Connect 2025, Meta announced that it would open its smart glasses platform to external developers to build AI-powered services for the Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses, unlocking richer and more interactive experiences. According to Meta, the Wearables Device Access Toolkit will give developers access to built-in sensors, microphones and other core functions, enabling services tailored to real-world use cases by combining these capabilities with Meta’s multimodal AI technologies.

The first wave of partners includes Twitch, Disney, and golf data service provider 18Birdies, with Twitch working on real-time live streaming from the glasses and Disney creating an interactive AI-powered park guide, while 18Birdies will offer swing recommendations and course analytics. Notably, owners of the first-generation Ray-Ban Display will also gain access, albeit with interaction limited to voice, extending the device’s value though with certain restrictions.

The rollout is planned as a limited developer preview initially, with broader availability anticipated in 2026, and Meta remains focused on Ray-Ban and Oakley collaborations rather than extending openness to frame or lens design, a stance contrasted by HTC’s VIVE Eagle open-architecture approach.