Google Appears Fairly Frightened of the Phrases ‘Smart Glasses’

Google may be curious about good glasses for the primary time since Google Glass, nevertheless it’s not significantly curious about saying so—no less than not in these actual phrases. During the corporate’s two-hour keynote at I/O 2026, Google talked a good quantity about its future with face-worn wearables, together with upcoming collabs with eyewear manufacturers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, however there was one factor lacking: it by no means truly stated “smart glasses.”

Nay, in Google-speak, its new wearable—a pair of glasses with cameras, audio system, and AI—are “intelligent eyewear.” Hell, by Google’s estimation, these good glas—er, clever glasses—aren’t even digicam glasses, they’re audio glasses. That’s regardless of the truth that they most definitely have cameras on them that may take footage and movies—identical because the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses.

It’s not altogether stunning that Google has its personal identify for good glasses; massive tech firms like to slap their very own advertising onto present classes. Even Meta calls its Ray-Bans “AI glasses,” not “smart glasses.” Apple is sort of infamous for rebranding. The Vision Pro, for instance, is a “spatial computer” within the firm’s lexicon, not an XR headset (it’s positively an XR headset).

Very enthusiastic about our progress on Intlligent Eyewear with our launch of audio glasses coming this fall. Amazing {hardware} from @SamsungMobile and delightful designs from @WarbyParker and @_GentleMonster_ with the perfect of @GeminiApp onboard. pic.twitter.com/E58p7fArxj

— Sameer Samat (@ssamat) May 19, 2026

Marketing isn’t uncommon, however it’s attention-grabbing that Google, the progenitor of the perennially loathed Google Glass, appears to be making such stark distinctions with its good glasses, particularly within the digicam division. I can concede “intelligent eyewear” as a moniker, because it’s mainly the identical distinction as “smart glasses,” however “audio glasses”? I’m not so positive. There are precise audio glasses on the market that focus extra on enjoying music and taking calls, they usually, by my definition—and most of the people’s, I’d think about—do most definitely not have a digicam on them.

Calling Google’s clever eyewear “audio glasses” is like calling a digital digicam a microphone. Sure, most can document video and, due to this fact, audio because of this, nevertheless it’s not the defining characteristic. The second there’s a digicam on a pair of glasses, they’re digicam glasses. If I’m being trustworthy, it looks like Google is attempting to keep away from the digicam of all of it, and I can’t say I blame it.

Google is, as I discussed earlier than, the inventor of Google Glass, which accurately spawned its personal unintended pejorative, “Glasshole,” again in 2013 when pushback stymied good glasses of their infancy. Cameras are divisive, and if Meta’s current (principally self-inflicted) foibles are any indication, they nonetheless rub individuals the flawed method. Google, I assume, goes to strive its greatest to keep away from one other Google Glass state of affairs with some suggestive advertising, however on this case, it looks like a little bit of a stretch.

What I’d actually prefer to see—moderately than advertising—is a few progress. There’s doubtless by no means going to be an answer to the truth that good glasses with cameras for photograph and video can simply be used as a instrument to spy on individuals and in any other case document them with out their information, however Google can (theoretically) transfer the needle on privateness for its customers. It may, as an illustration, determine to not use movies and footage from its clever eyewear prospects to coach AI as Meta has.

And who is aware of? Maybe it nonetheless will. For now, although, we’re simply left with somewhat wearable phrase salad, and I can’t say that’s a menu merchandise I’m significantly inclined to order.