Apple(US:AAPL) CNET·2025-10-10 12:01Industry Trend & Competition - Tech companies are pushing towards a future with AI-powered smart glasses, exemplified by Meta's Ray-Ban displays, raising questions about consumer demand [1][2] - Apple is reportedly shifting resources from Vision Pro to AI glasses development for 2027, aiming to compete with Meta [5] - The success of smart glasses hinges on addressing privacy concerns and ensuring they feel normal for everyday use [20][19] Apple's Potential & Strategy - Apple possesses advantages like camera tech, AirPods audio tech, wearables (Apple Watch), and AR/VR experience, positioning them well for smart glasses [9] - Apple could leverage the Apple Watch for gesture controls, potentially solving issues with current smart glasses like the Meta Neural Band [10][12] - Apple's existing retail presence (Apple Stores) could serve as demo locations for smart glasses, similar to Warby Parker [23][24] Challenges & Considerations - The high price of devices like Vision Pro ($3,500) presents a significant barrier to adoption [14] - Smart glasses need to be more affordable (ideally under $1,000) and address prescription needs for broader accessibility [16] - The industry is still figuring out how to seamlessly blend AR with the real world and provide contextual AI that is aware of the user's environment [17][18]