• Meta unveils 'Celeste,' its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display priced at $799.
• The launch is part of Meta's strategy to integrate AI into everyday wearables, targeting 'superintelligence.'
• Smart glasses include features like notifications, an AI assistant, and a new wristband for gesture controls.
• Meta faces scrutiny over child safety policies amid its push for advanced AI technology.
• CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasizes glasses as essential for the future of AI interaction.

At the annual Connect event in Menlo Park, California, Meta Platforms introduced its first consumer-ready smart glasses named "Celeste," which feature a built-in display that allows users to engage with digital notifications. Priced at $799, these glasses are positioned as a pivotal addition to Meta's wearable technology lineup, reflecting the company’s deep commitment—over $60 billion invested since 2020—to augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) integration in daily life. The product signals a significant shift in offering consumer-accessible AR solutions that interplay with AI, allowing users to experience a glimpse of future advancements in the tech realm, according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

The Celeste smart glasses are engineered to support basic tasks, such as displaying notifications and facilitating calls, with an expected launch date set for September 30. The glasses will incorporate a new wristband accessory allowing users to control various features through hand gestures, moving towards a hands-free experience. Meta aims for this device to not just be seen as a tech gadget but as part of a broader shift towards more intuitive user interfaces within its ecosystem, as noted by Reuters and Reuters.

Despite Meta's optimism about the appeal of Celeste, analysts have expressed concerns over its higher price point compared to existing smart glasses models from Ray-Ban and Oakley, which start at significantly lower prices. With a prediction suggesting initial sales may be limited, the glasses are still expected to play a crucial role in attracting developers to create applications tailored for this advanced platform, paving the way for future AR devices, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

In addition to the Celeste glasses, Meta also introduced a new model of Oakley branded smart glasses designed specifically for athletes, priced at $499, which feature an integrated action camera and better sound. This signals Meta's ambition to diversify its wearables in the market, moving beyond casual consumer products. The company is also racing against rivals like OpenAI and Google in advancing AI technology, as it remains under a cloud of scrutiny related to child safety issues on its platforms, which have overshadowed some of its innovation endeavors, according to Reuters and BBC.

Meta’s endeavors highlight the ongoing tension between innovation and ethical responsibility in tech, as the firm deals with criticisms pertaining to child safety on its platforms, an issue further fueled by whistleblower reports suggesting internal policies overlooked the potential harms faced by younger users. Amidst these challenges, the company is striving to establish Meta AI as a hallmark of personal technology advancement, positioning its products at the intersection of everyday utility and cutting-edge AI applications, as emphasized by Bangkok Post and South China Morning Post.