Meta Invests $3.5 Billion in World’s Largest Eye-Wear Maker in AI Glasses Push
Meta buys 3% of EssilorLuxottica for $3.5B, deepening its AI smart glasses strategy and reducing reliance on smartphone platforms.
Is the next frontier of AI wearable—and on your face?
Meta is betting on it. In a bold move to solidify its presence in the smart glasses space, Meta Platforms Inc. has acquired a 3% stake in EssilorLuxottica, the world’s largest eyewear maker, in a deal valued at around $3.5 billion.
The investment deepens Meta’s long-standing partnership with the maker of Ray-Ban, Oakley, and other iconic eyewear brands—and signals that AI-powered smart glasses may soon be as common as smartphones.
Why EssilorLuxottica?
Meta’s investment isn't just financial—it's strategic. EssilorLuxottica, headquartered in Paris, brings:
- Unmatched global eyewear distribution
- Design and manufacturing expertise
- A proven collaboration history with Meta on smart glasses
The two companies have already co-developed the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, equipped with built-in AI assistants, cameras, and real-time information overlays. Just last month, they expanded their partnership with the launch of Oakley-branded AI glasses.
Smart Glasses: Meta’s Answer to Apple and Google
For Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the move reflects a larger strategy: owning the hardware ecosystem, rather than building software that runs on competitor devices like Apple’s iPhone or Google’s Android. AI glasses offer Meta a direct-to-user channel, bypassing traditional platforms and embedding its services into everyday experiences.
“This represents another step in Meta’s commitment to the smart-glasses category,” wrote analysts at Bernstein, calling the investment a “vote of confidence” in the long-term potential of AI eyewear.
Meta may also expand its stake to 5%, depending on future plans—showing this is more than a one-off investment.
AI on Your Face: More Than Just a Gimmick?
Meta’s smart glasses already offer AI-powered image captioning, voice assistants, and real-time stock price updates, making them more functional than previous attempts like Google Glass. The idea: make wearable computing both stylish and useful, especially as generative AI becomes more contextual and embedded in daily life.
With Apple Vision Pro pushing high-end spatial computing and OpenAI rumored to be building its own device, Meta’s move is both defensive and ambitious—staking an early claim in the AI wearables race.
What It Means for the Industry
EssilorLuxottica’s stock surged 7.1% on the news, its biggest jump in months. Even competitors like Warby Parker saw gains, rising 4.5% in the U.S. amid broader investor enthusiasm about smart eyewear.
Meta’s push into hardware is increasingly expensive—but calculated. With AI reshaping how humans interact with tech, glasses may become the new smartphone, and this deal puts Meta right in the frame.
Actionable Takeaways:
- Watch for Meta’s next-gen smart glasses featuring more advanced AI functions.
- Monitor partnerships across fashion, optics, and tech as AI wearables scale.
- Expect Big Tech to double down on hardware-AI integration in consumer devices.
