Meta announced new color lens combinations for its Ray-Ban smart glasses as well as wider availability for some features that were previously only accessible to members of Meta’s Early Access Program. These include live translation, the ability to send messages and make calls through Instagram, and conversations with Meta AI based on what you’re currently looking at.
Live translation was first teased at Meta Connect 2024 last October, and saw a limited rollout through Meta’s Early Access Program in select countries last December. Starting today it’s getting a wider rollout to all the markets where the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are available. You can hold a conversation with someone who speaks English, French, Italian, or Spanish, and hear a real-time translation through the smart glasses in your preferred language.
If you download a language pack in advance, you can use the live translations feature without Wi-Fi or access to a cellular network, making it more convenient to use while traveling abroad.
Meta also highlighted a few other features that are still enroute or getting an expanded release. Live AI, which allows the Meta AI smart assistant to continuously see what you do for more natural conversations is now “coming soon to general availability in the US and Canada.” The ability to “send and receive direct messages, photos, audio calls, and video calls from Instagram on your glasses,” similar to functionality already available through WhatsApp, Messenger, and iOS and Android’s native messaging apps, is coming soon as well.
Access to music apps like Spotify, Amazon Music, Shazam, and Apple Music is starting to expand beyond the US and Canada, Meta says. However, asking Meta AI to play music, or for more information about what you’re listening to, will still only be available to those with their “default language is set to English.”
Meta AI, which was already made available in the UK earlier this month, will be accessible in “all our supported countries in the EU” starting next week, the company says. Meta also plans to launch its Ray-Ban smart glasses in Mexico, India, and the United Arab Emirates soon, but an exact timeline hasn’t been announced.
