Meta has announced a significant software update for its AI-powered smart glasses, introducing a new feature designed to help users hear conversations more clearly in loud settings. The update also includes a novel Spotify integration that plays music corresponding to the user’s visual environment.
AI-Powered Conversation Boost
The most practical addition to the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses is a new conversation-focus feature. Initially announced at Meta’s Connect conference, this function utilizes the glasses’ open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person the wearer is speaking to.
This feature aims to improve auditory focus in environments like busy restaurants, bars, or commuter trains. Users can adjust the amplification level by swiping on the right temple of the glasses or through the device settings, allowing for precise control based on their surroundings. This development places Meta in direct competition with similar accessibility features, such as Apple’s Conversation Boost available on AirPods.
Spotify Integration Brings Music to Your View
The update also introduces a more creative, albeit experimental, Spotify feature. This allows the smart glasses to identify objects in the user’s view and suggest a relevant song. For instance, looking at an album cover could prompt the glasses to play a song by that artist, while viewing a Christmas tree could trigger holiday music.
While the conversation-focus feature is initially limited to the U.S. and Canada, the Spotify integration is available in English across a wider range of markets, including Australia, Canada, the U.K., the U.S., several European nations, and notably, the United Arab Emirates.
Rollout and Availability
The new features are part of software update (v21), which will first be released to users enrolled in Meta’s Early Access Program. Following this initial phase, the update is expected to roll out more broadly to all users of the supported smart glasses.
About Meta
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.
Source: TechCrunch
