At its I/O 2026 conference, Google unveiled its first smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence, which feature the ability to translate speech in real time.
Google indicated that it developed these glasses in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm, and that they run on Android XR, an operating system designed for wearable devices and augmented reality headsets. Sales are slated to begin in the fall of 2026, though a specific date was not disclosed.
The glasses rely on the integrated Gemini AI assistant, which can be activated by saying "Hey Google" or with a simple touch. Despite containing cameras, speakers, and microphones, they do not have a screen in the lenses; instead, information is transmitted audibly directly to the user's ear.
The glasses provide real-time translation for both spoken words and text within the camera's field of view. For example, in Tokyo, a user simply looks at a menu written in Japanese, and the Gemini assistant translates it directly into sounds for the user's ear. The technology also works during live conversations, where a person speaks a different language, and the user listens to the translation through the glasses' built-in speakers. Google has not yet announced the list of languages supported by its glasses, but given the capabilities of the Google Translate service, it is expected that many languages will be supported.
Analyzing what the user sees in real time, such as restaurant reviews or explaining mysterious traffic signs.
Camera-based voice navigation guidance, with the ability to add stops or search for the nearest cafes.
Control calls, messages, and music, as well as capture and move photos and videos via the Nano Banana AI engine.
