On Tuesday May 6, 2025, Jérôme Malzac (Innovation Director and generative AI expert at Micropole), Laurent Daudet (Managing Director at LightOn), and Delphine Sabattier (host of SMART TECH) discussed connected glasses, their future and the evolution of artificial intelligence in the SMART TECH program on BSMART. A fascinating subject that raises the following question: are these smart glasses a revolution in the making, or just another gadget? All in a context where AI is positioning itself as the real driving force behind this innovation.
The return of smart glasses
Connected glasses are nothing new, but their adoption is still a work in progress. Many promises have been made in the past, notably with products such as Google Glass or Apple's glasses. However, consumers were not really interested. But today, with the integration of artificial intelligence, these devices finally seem to be taking a new turn.
Jérôme Malzac reminded that connected eyewear has been a promising project for the past ten years, but that the integration of AI has really made it possible to make it useful in everyday life. According to him, connected glasses are no longer just a product designed to correct eyesight, but have become true multi-functional tools, capable of translating languages in real time, analyzing objects or providing information about our environment.
AI at the heart of the evolution of connected glasses
Artificial intelligence plays a central role in the evolution of connected eyewear. Thanks to technologies such as generative AI, these glasses can now not only react to voice commands, but also interpret actions and the environment in which the user is moving. This opens up new prospects for applications in sectors as varied asindustry, healthcare and even tourism.
The glasses, equipped with object recognition and instantaneous translation systems, also offer very practical solutions in fields such as training or logistics, where an operator may need assistance without having to consult a terminal.
"We've been promised a lot": Jérôme Malzac's viewpoint
Jérôme Malzac warned, however, against the premature enthusiasm that has often surrounded AI in recent years. "We've been promised a lot with AI, spectacular advances, but they've been slow to materialize in everyday use. Today, we're starting to see tangible tangible applicationsbut widespread adoption has yet to be proven", he added.
This remark underlines AI's historical difficulties in finding truly disruptive applications that live up to the expectations of consumers and professionals alike. However, Jérôme remains optimistic: "We are now at a turning point where AI can truly change the gameespecially with products like connected glasses."
Towards wider adoption?
Connected glasses are on the verge of democratization, but several obstacles remain to be overcome. Their price, perceived usefulness and concerns around privacy remain sensitive issues, particularly in terms of RGPD. Companies and researchers must therefore strike a balance between innovation and acceptability.
But advances in miniaturization, on-board computing power and autonomy are opening up promising prospects. The future of AI-powered connected glasses looks set to be a revolution in the making, even if the road ahead is still full of pitfalls.
