The most significant shift since the mobile phone

👋 Hi all,

Another week flew by, and many exciting things were announced. One of them is a new product launch by Mark Zuckerberg; this will open a whole new world of businesses and possibilities for founders. I predict we will all have one by 2035.

I also found a funny TikTok video about the hottest restaurant in 🗽 New York and redesigned my newsletter. I hope you like it.

See you on Tuesday,

Bas

If you are even half as obsessed over the internet as I am, you have most likely seen this week’s update from ChatGPT, and it now has real-time access to the internet. This means it can find and browse recent information instead of the previous version, which had only online sources until September 2021.

While this was a major overhaul and will change many things, it isn’t what blew my mind. Remember Google launched its version of the Google Glass around 2012?

I remember the excitement and skepticism surrounding the launch of Google Glass in 2012. It was a bold move into uncharted territory—a wearable device that promised to change how we interacted with technology. Yet, despite the innovation, it faced its fair share of challenges and ultimately faded into obscurity by 2015. The world wasn't quite ready for a device that, at the time, felt more like a tech experiment than a practical tool.

Fast forward to today, and we are on the verge of another technological revolution that could redefine how we engage with the digital world. Meta, formerly Facebook, has partnered with the iconic eyewear brand Ray-Ban to introduce a new generation of smart glasses. Click on the video to view (1 min). What sets these apart from their predecessors is the technology within and the style and sophistication they bring to the table. These smart glasses aim to bridge the gap between fashion and function, signaling a shift in our relationship with technology.

Imagine a world where your eyeglasses aren't just a vision correction tool and a window into the digital realm. These smart glasses could revolutionize how we perceive and interact with the world. It's worth pondering the implications and considering whether we are on the verge of another technological shift akin to the smartphone revolution.

The collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban promises to bring AR capabilities to our everyday eyewear. Imagine having real-time information, navigation, and communication right in your field of vision. Whether walking down the street or attending a meeting, these smart glasses could overlay valuable digital information onto your physical surroundings, enhancing your daily experiences.

Voice commands and interactions have become an integral part of our digital lives, thanks to the rise of virtual assistants like Siri. These smart glasses are expected to leverage voice recognition technology, making it easier for users to control various functions and access information on the go. The days of fumbling with a smartphone may soon be a thing of the past.

Just like the early days of smartphones, the success of these smart glasses will depend on their adoption rate and the cultural shift they trigger. Will they become an indispensable part of our lives, much like our smartphones, or will they face resistance and skepticism? It's a question that only time will answer.

As we ponder the potential of these smart glasses, it's worth reflecting on the lessons from the past. When the first mobile phones came out, they were clunky, expensive, and seen as a toy for the rich and famous. Many doubted their use and questioned why anyone would want to be constantly reachable. There’s an internet famous video of people being interviewed in The Netherlands where people didn’t see the point of having a mobile phone. Well, that aged well...

Similarly, the smart glasses of today may initially face resistance and skepticism. They may seem like a novelty or a tech accessory for early adopters. However, if history indicates, we should consider new technology. Over time, what starts as a niche innovation can become an integral part of our daily lives.

The convergence of fashion and technology in these smart glasses is smart (pun intended). It suggests that tech companies are focused on more than just functionality but also on designing products people want to wear and integrate into their style. This shift from mere utility to fashion-forward tech could significantly drive adoption, especially among younger generations.

While we may still need to comprehend the impact of these smart glasses fully, one thing is clear: they represent another bold step in our ongoing relationship with technology. Just as the smartphone once seemed like a toy, these glasses have the potential to redefine how we connect in the future.

It's a future that's both exciting and uncertain, much like the early days of the mobile phone, and it will bring privacy challenges, but this will likely happen in the next ten years.

Ps. I’m buying 😎