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Introduction: A Strategic Vision Through Smart Lenses
Meta has taken another confident step into the world of wearable technology by investing in the French eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica — the maker of Ray-Ban and Oakley. This isn’t just a financial move; it’s a signal of Meta’s deepening commitment to smart glasses and next-gen AI-powered wearables. As the company continues to diversify beyond social media and into hardware and augmented reality, partnering more closely with a global leader in optics could reshape the future of consumer tech.
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According to a July 9 report from Bloomberg, Meta has acquired just under 3% of shares in France-based EssilorLuxottica, the company behind globally renowned eyewear brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley. The deal, estimated at approximately ¥520 billion (roughly \$3.2 billion USD), is seen as a strategic move to deepen collaboration between the two companies in the smart glasses space.
Meta and EssilorLuxottica have been partners since 2021, when they launched the first generation of Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses. These glasses initially featured integrated cameras, and their second-generation release in October 2023 introduced AI functionality, receiving positive consumer feedback.
Further strengthening the collaboration, Meta and Essilor introduced a smart glasses line under Oakley’s brand in June 2025. EssilorLuxottica’s CEO, Francesco Milleri, revealed that sales have exceeded 2 million units since October 2023. In a February earnings statement, Milleri expressed strong confidence in the future of smart eyewear and confirmed that the company is working with Meta on long-term plans to develop innovative wearable devices powered by artificial intelligence.
What Undercode Say:
Meta’s investment in EssilorLuxottica is far more than a cash infusion—it’s a calculated alignment between Silicon Valley’s tech powerhouse and Europe’s optical titan. For years, smart glasses have been an intriguing yet niche technology, often facing challenges like battery life, design, and lack of compelling use cases. However, by merging Meta’s AI ecosystem with EssilorLuxottica’s industrial design excellence and brand recognition, the potential for mainstream adoption is real.
Meta’s Reality Labs has faced heavy financial losses, with billions poured into AR and VR without immediate consumer traction. By investing in a company like EssilorLuxottica, Meta is hedging those losses through a brand that already commands strong customer loyalty. The Ray-Ban name alone brings fashion credibility to a product category often perceived as geeky or impractical.
Moreover, smart glasses powered by AI offer real utility — from real-time translation and contextual search to image recognition and on-the-go virtual assistants. With the integration of Meta AI, the hardware isn’t just a camera on your face; it’s evolving into a genuine personal assistant.
The addition of the Oakley smart glasses line signals that this strategy isn’t exclusive to Ray-Ban’s fashion-forward base. Oakley appeals to sports and activewear consumers, giving Meta access to different demographics who might value functionality over aesthetics.
It’s also notable that Meta is acquiring equity rather than just signing tech partnerships. This signals a long-term vision where Meta wants strategic control and influence over the eyewear ecosystem. If successful, this move could help Meta replicate the Apple Watch model — combining design, hardware, and proprietary software in a single, consumer-loved device.
Still, challenges remain. Privacy concerns around always-on cameras, unclear killer features for daily users, and hardware limitations could all hinder mass adoption. But with two million units sold in less than a year, the numbers suggest the tide may be turning.
Finally, if Meta is indeed considering additional investments, as Bloomberg suggests, then we may be looking at a future where Meta becomes a major stakeholder in consumer optics — bridging the gap between wearables and mainstream eyewear.
🔍 Fact Checker Results
✅ Meta and Essilor began collaboration in 2021, confirmed by both parties through past product releases.
✅ Investment is just under 3%, amounting to around ¥520 billion or \$3.2 billion USD, according to Bloomberg’s report.
✅ Over 2 million smart glasses units sold since October 2023 — confirmed by EssilorLuxottica CEO in public earnings call.
📊 Prediction
Expect Meta to unveil a third-generation smart glasses model by late 2025 or early 2026, potentially incorporating multimodal AI capabilities — such as visual language understanding and real-time gesture control. Additionally, a broader push into healthcare (e.g., vision correction + AI) through Oakley or Ray-Ban could emerge as Meta tries to differentiate its wearable offering in a crowded tech landscape.
If successful, smart glasses could be
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Reported By: xtechnikkeicom_5ab0ea782febdea01eb86e2e
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