Snap to Launch Consumer Smart Glasses in 2026, Taking on Meta in AR Wearables

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Snap Inc. announced on Tuesday that it will release its first-ever smart glasses for general consumers in 2026, stepping up competition against Meta in the augmented reality (AR) wearable market. The new glasses, named Specs, are designed to be lightweight and user-friendly.

Snap, widely recognized for its Snapchat app and AR-powered animated filters, has invested over $3 billion in developing AR glasses over 11 years, according to CEO Evan Spiegel. The upcoming Specs will build on Snap’s prior developer-only 5th generation Spectacles launched last September.

Augmented reality enables overlaying digital effects on real-world images and videos through a camera or lens, creating interactive experiences. Snap aims to expand its product offerings and revenue sources beyond the digital advertising market, which faces uncertainties due to shifting U.S. trade policies.

The company will collaborate with Niantic Spatial, a platform for augmented reality and geospatial tech, to enhance Lens Studio, Snap’s app for creators to design and publish AR lenses for the Snapchat camera and Specs glasses.

Snap’s move follows strong momentum in AR wearables led by Meta, whose Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses—developed with EssilorLuxottica—have gained popularity. Meta continues integrating AI features into its glasses to broaden appeal. Google and other tech giants are also exploring investments in smart glasses.

Trump AI Czar Downplays Risk of AI Chip Smuggling, Warns Against Overregulation

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David Sacks, the White House AI czar under former President Donald Trump, on Tuesday minimized concerns about American AI chips being smuggled to adversaries, emphasizing the physical size and security of such equipment. Speaking at the AWS summit in Washington, Sacks explained that AI chips are housed in massive server racks weighing two tons, making clandestine smuggling highly unlikely.

Sacks expressed worries that stringent U.S. AI regulations could hinder innovation and growth, potentially ceding the global AI market to China. “We talk about these chips like they could be smuggled in the back of a briefcase. That’s not what they look like,” he said. He criticized efforts by state legislatures to regulate AI and permitting obstacles for data center construction.

Contrasting with President Joe Biden’s policies, which focused on curbing chip exports to China and addressing risks of AI misuse, the Trump administration revoked several Biden-era executive orders aimed at controlling AI diffusion and competition. Sacks argued that the Biden restrictions risk pushing countries like the United Arab Emirates closer to China, citing a recent U.S.-UAE plan to build a major AI campus abroad.

“We rescinded that Biden diffusion rule, which…made diffusion a bad word. Diffusion of our technology should be a good word,” Sacks said.

He warned that if AI chips made by Chinese giant Huawei become widespread globally within five years, it would signify a strategic loss for the U.S. Highlighting the rapid pace of Chinese AI development, Sacks stated, “China is not years and years behind us in AI. Maybe they’re three to six months.” The White House later clarified that Chinese AI chips lag one to two years behind U.S. technology, while their AI models are closer in capability.

Russian Parliament Supports New State Messaging App to Rival WhatsApp and Telegram

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Russian lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favor of developing a government-backed messaging app aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on foreign platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. The app will be closely integrated with state services, reflecting Moscow’s ongoing push for digital sovereignty.

Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the parliament’s information policy committee and author of the draft legislation, said the new platform will provide messaging, voice calls, and other features beyond those offered by Telegram and Meta’s WhatsApp. “The main competitive advantage of the platform will be the deep integration with government services,” Gorelkin wrote on Telegram.

The legislation still requires approval by the upper house of parliament and the signature of President Vladimir Putin to become law.

Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev recently proposed integrating government services with a national messaging app during a meeting with Putin, highlighting Russia’s lag behind other countries in this area. State-controlled tech firm VK, operator of the VKontakte social network used by nearly 80 million Russians daily, has been investing heavily in homegrown services like VK Video, a local alternative to YouTube.

VK reported a significant loss of 94.9 billion roubles ($1.21 billion) in 2024 amid efforts to expand content and improve technology.

Meanwhile, YouTube’s daily audience in Russia plunged from over 40 million users in mid-2024 to fewer than 10 million recently, partly due to slower download speeds. Russian officials blamed Google for neglecting investment in local infrastructure and not restoring blocked Russian channels. Google denied causing any technical issues.

Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Russian Internet Protection Society, warned on Telegram that the government might deliberately slow WhatsApp and Telegram to boost the new app’s adoption, raising concerns about potential infringements on personal freedoms.