Meta announced an update to its AI glasses on Tuesday that enhances conversation hearing in noisy environments and adds a Spotify integration matching songs to visual views. The conversation feature launches initially on Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses in the U.S. and Canada, while the Spotify function expands to additional markets.
The conversation-focus feature employs the glasses’ open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person the wearer is speaking with. This capability targets situations where background noise interferes with clear communication. Meta first introduced the feature at its Connect conference earlier this year. Wearers activate and control it through specific interactions with the device.
Users adjust the amplification level by swiping the right temple of the glasses or accessing the device settings directly. This flexibility enables precise calibration suited to varying surroundings. Examples of applicable settings include a busy restaurant filled with chatter and clinking dishes, a crowded bar with overlapping voices, a pulsating club environment with loud music, or a commuter train rumbling with announcements and passenger murmurs. Such adjustments ensure the amplified voice stands out against ambient sounds in these specific scenarios.
The performance of this conversation-focus feature requires real-world testing to determine its reliability across diverse conditions. Comparable technologies appear in other devices. Apple’s AirPods include a Conversation Boost function that prioritizes the speaker in front of the user. AirPods Pro models incorporate a clinical-grade Hearing Aid capability, providing structured auditory assistance approved for medical use.
A separate update integrates Spotify functionality, allowing the glasses to play a song aligned with the wearer’s current view. For example, viewing an album cover triggers playback of a track by the associated artist. Similarly, looking at a Christmas tree surrounded by gifts prompts holiday music selection. This connection links visual input captured by the glasses directly to audio actions within the Spotify application.
The Spotify feature operates in English across an extensive list of markets:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Mexico
- Norway
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
The software update, designated as version 21, deploys initially to participants in Meta’s Early Access Program. Enrollment demands joining a waitlist followed by company approval. Subsequent phases extend availability to a wider user base possessing compatible Ray-Ban Meta or Oakley Meta HSTN glasses.
