Will AI Glasses Go Mainstream in 2025?

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a major tech event, will take placein Las Vegas from January 7 to 10, 2025. This year, with the growing use of AI, AI glasses are expected to be one of the biggest highlights at the event.

AI glasses are regarded as the key product of the next-generation smart hardware and are expected to experience explosive growth in 2025. According to market research data, global salesare projected toreach 1.4 billion units by 2035. In the second half of 2024, multiple tech giants released their AI glasses. Especially as smartphones are near their technological limits, AI glasses are expected to be the next breakthrough.

Industry analysts note that 2025 will be a pivotal turning point for developing AI glasses. The market size is expected to grow tenfold within the next 12 months. This growth is driven by technological advancements and the increasing consumer demand for smart devices, particularly those that integrate multiple functions such as cameras, audio playback, and health monitoring.

"We are at a critical moment in the evolution of hardware, and AI glasses will be the next major consumer market. While technical challenges remain, with key players entering the space, this technology is expected to rapidly develop and become mainstream in the coming years," Tom Reilly, Senior Analyst, Forrester Research.

In 2025, AI glasses will achieve deep integration of AI and AR (augmented reality) technology, combined with other cutting-edge technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing, to expand more intelligent application scenarios. Core technologies include optical modules, micro-displays, and AI chips. Currently, manufacturers face challenges in technology integration, particularly in optical display and miniaturization. Balancing AI glasses' portability and high-performance capabilities is a key challenge in technology development.

"Although AI glasses' hardware technology has made significant progress, there are still numerous challenges, especially in battery life, display quality, and size control. In the coming years, manufacturers must continue to push for miniaturization in hardware to better meet consumer demand for convenience and long wearability," Chris Jones, VP of Research, Canalys.

However, technological challenges are not the only obstacle. Privacy and data security issues are growing as AI glasses become more widespread. Manufacturers need to strengthen hardware encryption and data anonymization measures to protect users' personal information from being leaked. For consumers, market penetration is still constrained by privacy concerns.

Jessica Ramirez, Research Director, IDC, pointed out that although current competitors like Meta and Snap exist, Apple's entry will undoubtedly make the market more dynamic. With its strong brand and ecosystem, 'Atlas' will attract many consumers, further driving the industry's maturity.

However, industry insiders point out that in addition to the competition in core technology, brand influence and consumer perception will also play a decisive role in the future market. Meta's collaboration with EssilorLuxottica to launch Ray-Ban smart glasses is a successful example, attracting many users through the combination of Ray-Ban's brand effect and the innovative features of smart glasses. More traditional eyewear brands are expected to collaborate with tech companies.

Meta's partnership with Ray-Ban to launch the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses marks the start of the smart glasses market moving toward combining AI and AR technology.

Data shows that by 2025, AI features will account for over 60% of smart glasses sales, signaling a new growth phase in the smart glasses industry.