The newest fashion-tech accessory is here: the Meta-Ray-Ban, smart glasses! On the first glimpse they look like your standard (sun)glasses, but nothing can be further from the truth. They do not just protect your eyes from the sun, but they can also take pictures, record video’s, translate sentences, livestream on social media and do much more!
How does it work?
The smart glasses are controlled through both your voice and a so called ‘Meta neural band’, that is worn around your wrist. This neural band uses EMG technology which detects the electrical signals send by your brain to your muscles (meta, 2024). This means the device can recognize extremely subtle gestures and translate them into digital commands.
According to the Harvard business review (2025) ‘disruptive information explained’, true disruption transforms a product that was historically very expensive into a far more affordable product that is accessible for a much larger population. So, from that perspective I wouldn’t say it is a disruptive product yet, if we place the product in the market of smartphones for example.
However, comparing the Meta-Ray-Ban smart glasses with the traditional AR glasses such as the Microsoft Hololens or Magic Leap, the Meta-glasses could be considered disruptive already! Namely, cost of the meta glasses is around $500 (meta, 2025) instead of $4000 like the Magic leap 2 (Magic leap,2025). This makes them significantly more affordable for the public. Furthermore, they are aimed at everyday consumers rather than specialized industries, which makes them more accessible. The AR capabilities might not be as great as their competitors yet, but it is simplified for the bigger audience, exactly how disruptive innovation start!
Although this new product has a lot of promising aspects, it also raises big concerns regarding privacy. Since these glasses can record and take photos without people knowing, questions about consent and data protection will highly likely arise.
In my opinion this technology shows both potential and risk. It pushes boundaries and might in some cases even be considered as disruptive innovation. However, it also raises difficult questions about privacy, data ownership and dependence on big tech.
References:
- Meta. (2025). Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses display. https://www.meta.com/nl/ai-glasses/meta-ray-ban-display/
- Harvard Business Review. (2025). Disruptive innovation explained [Video]. Harvard Business Publishing. https://hbr.org/video/2226808799001/disruptive-innovation-explained
- Magic Leap 2 Mixed Reality Headset. (2025). Channel XR. https://channelxr.com/products/magic-leap-2-mixed-reality-headset
- Meta. (2024, October 25). Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses: Capture, share, and listen in style. Meta Newsroom. https://about.fb.com/news/2024/10/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses/
