Google's smart glasses with artificial intelligence are one step closer to becoming a reality.

Google is immersed in a wide range of developments related to artificial intelligence, and one of the most notable projects is called Project Astra. During last spring's Google I/O event, the company showcased a demonstration of its multimodal virtual assistant, which aims to become a permanent assistant in users' lives. Although the technology is still somewhere between an "interesting idea" and an "initial prototype," Astra represents the most ambitious expression of Google's work in the field of artificial intelligence.

In the demonstrations of Astra, there is one component that has consistently drawn attention: the glasses. Google has been experimenting with different types of smart glasses over the years, from Google Glass to the Project Iris translators introduced a couple of years ago. Although at the beginning of this year, a Google spokesperson mentioned that the glasses were "a functional prototype in research," they now appear to show more advanced development. During a recent press conference ahead of the launch of Gemini 2.0, Bibo Xu, product manager for the Google DeepMind team, announced that "a small group will be testing Project Astra on prototype glasses, which we believe is one of the most powerful and intuitive formats for experiencing this type of AI." This group will be part of Google’s trusted tester program, which often has access to early prototypes, many of which are never commercialized.

Some testers will use Astra on an Android phone, while others will use it through the glasses. Later in the conference, when asked about the glasses product, Xu commented that "we will have more news about the glasses product soon." This doesn’t mean that Google Smart Glasses are about to hit stores, but it does suggest that Google has hardware plans for Project Astra.

Smart glasses align perfectly with Google's vision for Astra, as there is no better way to combine audio, video, and a screen than in a face-worn device, especially if the goal is to create an always-on experience. In a new video highlighting Astra's capabilities alongside Gemini 2.0, a tester uses Astra to remember security codes in a building, check the weather, and perform other tasks. At one point, they observe a bus passing by and ask Astra if "that bus will take me near Chinatown." While these actions can be performed with a phone, using them through a wearable device feels much more natural.

Despite the fact that smart glasses, including those from Meta, are currently in an uncertain stage, Google seems fully committed to making smart glasses a reality and is taking the development of this device seriously.