The discourse on generative AI is one that can potentially impact various markets and industries around the world. Aside from changing how we work and our daily lifestyle, generative AI is also entering the eyewear industry.
In 2023, Stanford University student Brian Chang built his innovative software, RizzGPT, into a pair of smart glasses made using an open-source augmented reality monocle from Brilliant Labs. RizzGPT, of course, was built using OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The result is a smart eyewear product lauded for its ability to generate human-like conversation based on user prompts.
Chiang explained that RizzGPT uses AI to provide “charisma on demand”, using the smart glasses’ hardware to listen in on the current and on-going conversations and then generating human-like responses to tell you exactly what to say next. At the same time, Chiang has stated that RizzGPT isn’t intended to replace conversation.
Rather, it’s an innovative twist on human interactions backed by rapidly advancing technology. Aside from using OpenAI’s generative AI model, RizzGPT also uses 5G connectivity to ensure real-time and speedy responses.
While certainly not the kind of generative AI integration that would have people worried about job contention or productivity, RizzGPT is an interesting look at the lighthearted, almost meme-powered side of generative AI technology and how it can transform our day-to-day lives.
Eyewear in the Age of Tech Trends
Of course, generative AI is only one aspect of the digital wave transforming the eyewear industry. Aside from integrating new technologies into eyewear products, many retailers, brands, and manufacturers are also creating eyewear products in response to the rise of tech.
As we become more glued to digital screens today, for example, there’s an increased risk of prolonged exposure to blue light. This is known to impact sleep quality and cause eye fatigue.
Fortunately, purchasing a pair of blue light glasses can help protect against high-energy visible blue-violet light by reducing glare and offering visual comfort. Mainly, blue light glasses have been marketed over the years to prevent symptoms of digital eye strain, which is especially common due to the lengthy usage of computers and mobile devices.
Blue light glasses from online retailer Glasses Direct also help by providing visual clarity using increased contrast and anti-reflection coating. Nowadays, you can easily find blue light lenses for various eyeglass frame styles that can accommodate a prescription in case you need vision correction.
Meanwhile, the combination of digital technology and eyewear innovation is also impacting various other industries. In 2023, luxury vehicle manufacturer BMW revealed its take on smart eyewear by introducing AR glasses with a head-up display (HUD) to provide important journey data into a biker’s line of sight.
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The HUD technology is not uncommon in many modern premium cars today, but BMW innovated by fitting the tech into the compact real-estate of glasses. BMW’s ConnectedRide smart glasses can project a rider’s speed, navigation instructions, and gear selection on the lens so riders don’t have to constantly steal glances at dials while on the road.
The Future of Generative AI and Eyewear
Ultimately, when it comes to speculating or predicting the future of generative AI and eyewear, it’s important to take a look at the companies and giants investing in the relatively young technology. In a previous post, we highlighted AI innovations as discussed by NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg is especially a huge fan of combining AI with augmented reality eyewear, even though the hip Gen Z smart glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, don’t yet have the technology for consumer use.
In May 2024, Innovative Eyewear expressed optimism about the future of smart eyewear after announcing a 165% increase in first-quarter revenue. The company’s brand, Lucyd, recently released its line of smart glasses, marketed as the world’s first smart eyewear powered with ChatGPT for hands-free features using iOS and Samsung devices.
At the same time, Innovative Eyewear has cited the massive benefit of tech giants like Apple and Meta investing in smart glasses, helping raise consumer awareness for the category.
