The top manager at Google explained why the Google Glass project failed in 2013.

Google Reimagines Smart Glasses: Fashion Over Technology

Samir Samat, head of the Android Ecosystem division at Google, explained why the company's first smart glasses—Google Glass 2013—failed to resonate with consumers. According to him, the main reason for the failure was not price or functionality but a lack of fashionable design.

> “Fashion trumps technology,” says Samat.

> This explains why Google brought in brands like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to develop new glasses. Their experts emphasized that *sensitivity and beauty* are key factors driving sales of most consumer goods; without them, buyers may react negatively.

Samsung is also involved in the project, helping blend style with innovation.

What’s New

- Two models of smart glasses with built‑in speakers and microphones for communicating with the AI chatbot Gemini (in natural language) are planned for release this fall.
- Little information is available yet: they will run on Android XR and use Qualcomm Snapdragon AR platform.
- At I/O 2026, Google demonstrated how future glasses will interact with other devices, including the Pixel Watch.

Future Plans

Google is developing display glasses with a special version of Android that will allow them to perform some smartphone functions rather than just displaying an app. This model is expected to appear next year.