Get ready for the war over AI face cameras!
Computerworld.com reported that “Miniaturization has finally enabled companies to build AI glasses that look and function like normal glasses, but with microphones and cameras.” The June 12, 2026 article entitled “Inside the coming war over face cameras” (https://www.computerworld.com/article/4184202/inside-the-coming-war-over-face-cameras.html) included these comments:
People are increasingly talking to AI, rather than typing. And multimodal input, especially video, is on the rise.
Put all of these trends together and you get a nascent industry pushing toward all-day, everyday AI glasses with cameras — and a worried public already pushing back at the idea.
Let’s look at how we got here.
Meta started it with a surprise hit: its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which later gained multimodal AI capability. Its Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses add one in-lens screen — but both versions of the glasses have cameras. (The company is working on a third generation that will probably ship next year.)
Google provides the AI and software platform through Android XR and Gemini, partnering with hardware makers to put its AI on other companies’ glasses. At Google I/O last month, Google unveiled frames from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker running Android XR with Gemini AI; they’re scheduled to launch this fall. Google is working on two types of AI glasses, one with screens and one that is audio-focused. Both types have cameras, though.
Samsung is working to launch AI-powered smart glasses, too, code-named “Jinju.” The company offered up details at Google I/O alongside Google. The glasses feature a 12-megapixel camera with autofocus; run on Android XR with Gemini AI; are co-designed with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker; and are slated to launch in July at the Samsung Unpacked event.
(As with Meta and Google, Samsung is working on AI glasses with and without screens, but both of its models have cameras.)
Tech giant Apple is also on the glasses train, based on reporting from anonymous insiders. Codenamed N50, the Apple glasses could have two cameras, one for pictures and videos, the other for multimodal AI input and hand-gesture control. (Apple is also working on a pendant and next-gen AirPods, both of which have cameras.)
There’s Amazon, which is reportedly developing a new line of consumer AI glasses with a camera after its earlier, camera-less Echo Frames and Carrera Smart Glasses lines failed. (My guess is the problem was Alexa, not the lack of cameras.) Although its Echo Frames have been effectively discontinued — displayed as sold out online — the company is already testing AI glasses with cameras for enterprise use on hundreds of US-based Amazon drivers.
Watch out!