google, samsung and gentle monster partner for smart eyewear that edits images on the go
google, Samsung, and gentle monster announce smart glasses
Google, Samsung, and South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster have announced a partnership to develop AI-powered smart glasses under Google’s Android XR platform, revealed during Google I/O 2026 in California. The collaboration marks Google’s latest push into wearable computing, combining Samsung’s hardware ecosystem with Gentle Monster’s fashion-led eyewear design and Google’s Gemini AI assistant.
The new ‘intelligent eyewear’ platform integrates microphones, speakers, cameras, and voice-based AI assistance directly into lightweight glasses frames designed for everyday wear. Early prototypes shown at Google I/O focus on hands-free functionality including live translation, navigation, messaging, image capture, and contextual search, while avoiding the more visually intrusive augmented reality displays associated with earlier generations of smart glasses.
image by Carlijn Jacobs courtesy of Gentle Monster
futuristic glasses can edit images and voice assist
For Google, the Gentle Monster partnership signals a clear attempt to reposition smart glasses as lifestyle products rather than experimental tech hardware. Known for its sculptural silhouettes and immersive retail environments, the Seoul-based eyewear label brings a fashion credibility that wearable technology companies have historically struggled to achieve.
The announcement also reflects a broader industry shift toward fashion-tech collaborations as companies race to establish the next mainstream computing interface beyond smartphones. Meta’s success with Ray-Ban smart glasses has already demonstrated consumer appetite for discreet wearable devices that resemble conventional eyewear, prompting competitors including Google to prioritize industrial design and brand partnerships alongside AI functionality.
the new design integrates microphones, speakers, cameras, and AI assistance
design highlights emotions and tech equally
‘Intelligent eyewear should feel as emotionally expressive as it is technologically advanced,’ said Hankook Kim, Founder and CEO of Gentle Monster. ‘Our vision was to merge fashion and technology in a way that feels bold, beautiful and human, bringing Gentle Monster’s disruptive design identity into a new era of intelligent eyewear with Samsung and Google.’
Google said the first Android XR eyewear products developed with Samsung and Gentle Monster are expected to launch later this year, with more advanced display-equipped models planned for future releases. The announcement also included a brand partnership with Warby Parker, with each eyewear brand bringing a distinct design approach to the device.
project info:
name: Intelligent eyewear
brands: Google, Samsung, Gentle Monster | @google, @samsung, @gentlemonster
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