It Feels Like Google Is Downplaying Good Glasses With a Display in Them

I had one mission at this time: attempt Google’s “intelligent eyewear” and get a greater sense of how “Gemini Intelligence” works on screen-equipped good glasses. I waited simply over an hour at I/O’s “AI Sandbox” and had a demo that ran about seven minutes. I assume that’s higher than the 90 seconds I had final 12 months. The machine I attempted was one other prototype machine—not the audio glasses from Samsung and Gentle Monster or Warby Parker—and had a small display screen in the appropriate lens. I don’t know what’s happening, but it surely appears like Google doesn’t need folks to check out the good glasses lengthy sufficient that they’ll see the display screen’s limitations. Or possibly Google is attempting to keep away from any comparisons to Google Glass.

Here’s how my demo went. I checked out an Ozzy Osbourne poster and requested Gemini (lengthy press on the appropriate arm’s touchpad) to play one among his songs. The AI assistant did as commanded. I sat down at a desk with a Go board and stones and requested Gemini to inform me concerning the sport. I used to be introduced over to a nook of the sales space to briefly have a look at the display screen’s tiny widget exhibiting the climate. Next, I skilled real-time translation. A workers member spoke Korean and the English translation promptly appeared on the display screen after she had completed talking. I wasn’t allowed to talk in English and see a Korean translation. There was no back-and-forth dialog. Finally, I used to be instructed to take a selfie in entrance of a mirror and ask Gemini to make use of Google’s Nano Banana picture generator to “put me on the moon.” The outcome was embarrassing:

I demoed Gemini Intelligence on Google’s prototype, screen-equipped good glasses. I used to be advised to ask Google Nano Banana to take my selfie after which “put me on the moon”

The AI put me on the moon and likewise made me look extra white

Just have a look at my face. It’s fully completely different pic.twitter.com/ed4aPQrNrS

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) May 20, 2026

Nano Banana put me on the moon… and likewise made me seem extra Caucasian. I undoubtedly didn’t ask Gemini to do this. I hate this picture. What is the purpose of getting good glasses slop-ify pictures like this? What is the real-world utility? It’s a gimmicky get together trick that doesn’t even work properly.

“Gemini Intelligence”—the flexibility to invoke the AI assistant to inform you about issues the cameras “see”—may very well be very helpful. The real-time translation appears actually promising; figuring out issues and getting info is informative; and taking part in music from a poster is enjoyable. Plus, Gemini was extra responsive this 12 months in comparison with final. But why isn’t Google exhibiting extra examples for the one display screen?

It’s making me marvel if Google is deliberately downplaying good glasses which have a single display screen in them. Why? Maybe it’s privacy-related. Or possibly as a result of the display screen could have restricted utility? The second you get a style of a display screen in good glasses—even one as tiny because the one in these Google good glasses—you may’t assist however anticipate extra from it. People will need full-blown apps of their peripheral imaginative and prescient, and if Google can’t ship that, it’s going to be a letdown.

It’s an issue that Meta goes by way of proper now with its Ray-Ban Display. Those good glasses even have a show in the appropriate lens, but it surely launched with none third-party apps, which has made them a non-starter for a cellphone accent that begins at $800. Meta is remedying the app state of affairs with a brand new SDK for builders to construct internet apps, however who is aware of if that’s truly the appropriate transfer.

The messaging appears to be: even when your good glasses have a tiny built-in display screen, you received’t actually use it usually. You’ll be invoking Gemini by way of audio extra. In that approach, good glasses with a single display screen—to not be confused with XR good glasses with higher optics like Google’s Xreal Project Aura made for extra work and leisure—could find yourself working extra like a smartwatch, which means they’re unlikely to ever substitute your cellphone.