Warby Parker's rival to Meta glasses is here. I got an early look. (www.businessinsider.com)

Warby Parker has launched presales for its Intelligent Eyewear collection, developed in collaboration with Google and Samsung, marking Google's return to consumer eyewear after the infamous Google Glass era. These smart glasses enable users to interact with the AI-powered Gemini system for tasks like scheduling and translations, as well as visual intelligence features that describe surroundings, offering a similar functionality to Meta's glasses. Despite both products sharing capabilities, Warby Parker's co-CEO Dave Gilboa emphasized that the user experience significantly differs upon actual use. The launch of these glasses is pivotal for the AI and smart tech landscape, given the growing interest in wearable AI devices. While the glasses focus on style, starting at $395, they also tackle privacy concerns by including indicators for when the camera is active and features to prevent unauthorized usage. However, the glasses enter a sensitive market, especially regarding privacy issues associated with camera-equipped wearables. Despite their fashionable design and advanced functionalities, the onus is on Warby Parker, Google, and Samsung to establish public trust and demonstrate real utility to avoid the backlash faced by competitors like Meta.