Ray-Ban Meta just got smarter in Europe

Users in several European countries can now communicate with their Ray-Ban Meta glasses in French, Italian, and Spanish, in addition to English.

Starting Monday (November 18th), people in France, Italy, Ireland, and Spain can use Meta AI voice commands to get answers to general questions.

“Since we launched in September 2023, we have been diligently working to ensure that Ray-Ban Meta glasses comply with Europe’s complex regulatory system,” Meta said in a statement.

Users in select countries can now ask their smart glasses questions like, “Hey Meta, what’s the best patisserie in Paris?” or “What are some good gift ideas for my kids aged 6 and 8?” and receive instant answers.

Meta said it is “excited” about bringing Meta AI to parts of the EU and looks forward to expanding to more European countries “soon.”

However, a feature allowing users to ask questions about what they see – such as “Hey Meta, tell me more about this landmark” – is still available only in the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Meta said it is working on bringing new features to “more countries” in the future.

Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which cost up to $379, allow wearers to take pictures, make video calls, and play music using voice commands, among other features.

The launch of smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban, which is owned by a European group EssilorLuxottica, has proven an early success and ignited a global race in the sector.

Last week, the Chinese tech giant Baidu unveiled its own pair of similar-looking smart glasses.