Meta announced an update to its AI glasses on Tuesday. This update introduces a new feature designed to help you better hear people talking in noisy environments. The feature will first become available on Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN smartglasses in the United States and Canada.
The glasses are also receiving another update that integrates with Spotify. This allows you to play a song that matches what you are currently looking at through the glasses. For example, if you look at an album cover, the glasses could play a song by that artist. If you look at a Christmas tree with gifts, you could play holiday music. This addition is more of a gimmick, but it demonstrates how Meta is thinking about connecting what people see with actions they can take in their apps.
The conversation-focus feature appears more practical. It was first announced at Meta’s Connect conference earlier this year. The feature uses the AI glasses’ open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person you are talking to. Wearers will be able to adjust the amplification level by swiping the right temple of their glasses or via the device settings. This allows for precise adjustment to match different environments, such as a busy restaurant, bar, club, or commuter train.
How well this feature works will need to be tested. However, the idea of using smart accessories as hearing aids is not limited to Meta. Apple’s AirPods already offer a Conversation Boost feature to help you focus on the person you are talking to. The Pro models more recently added support for a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature as well.
While the conversation-focus feature is limited to the U.S. and Canada, the Spotify feature is offered in English in a larger number of markets. These include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The software update, version 21, will first become available to those enrolled in Meta’s Early Access Program. Enrollment requires joining a waitlist and being approved. The update will later roll out more broadly.