In a candid moment at Stanford University, Google co-founder Sergey Brin openly labelled the company's pioneering wearable, Google Glass, a significant misstep. This rare admission of error comes as Google, in collaboration with major tech and fashion brands, prepares for a strategic re-entry into the smart eyewear market with advanced AI capabilities slated for next year.
The "Mistake" of Rushing to Market
During a discussion at the Stanford University School of Engineering, Brin was asked what advice he would give to young entrepreneurs. He laughed and pointed to Google Glass as a prime "example of prior mistakes." The tech visionary stressed the importance of fully developing a product before its commercial release. "When you have it like your cool new wearable device idea, really fully bake," he advised.
Brin elaborated that the core error was a premature launch. The company "tried to commercialize it too quickly" before ensuring the device was "cost-effective" and "polished" from a consumer perspective. Google Glass first debuted in 2013 to much fanfare but was discontinued after facing widespread criticism over its high price tag, awkward design, privacy concerns, and limited functionality.
A Strategic Comeback with AI Partners
Brin's reflective comments arrive at a pivotal time. Google is actively developing a new generation of smart glasses, this time harnessing artificial intelligence. As per a CNBC report, the tech giant is working with partners like Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker on these AI-powered spectacles, which could see a release as early as 2025.
Official plans were detailed in a December 2025 company blog post and an SEC filing. Google confirmed it plans to launch its smart glasses in 2026. These devices will be powered by Android XR, Google's operating system for extended reality headsets.
The company outlined two distinct product paths:
- AI Glasses for Screen-Free Assistance: These audio-focused glasses will use built-in speakers, microphones, and cameras to let users converse naturally with the Gemini AI assistant, take photos, and get help hands-free.
- Display AI Glasses: This variant will add a discreet in-lens display to privately show information like turn-by-turn navigation or real-time translation captions directly in the user's field of vision.
"The first glasses will arrive next year," Google stated in the blog, marking a calculated second attempt to conquer the wearable glasses segment.
Lessons Learned for a New Era
The journey from Google Glass to the upcoming AI glasses represents a classic tech industry story of learning from failure. Brin's public acknowledgment signals a more mature and consumer-focused approach for Google's hardware ambitions. The new strategy emphasizes powerful AI integration, thoughtful design through fashion partnerships, and clear, practical use cases aimed at solving everyday problems rather than just showcasing technology.
If successful, the 2026 launch could finally realize the long-held vision of seamless, wearable computing that the original Google Glass promised but failed to deliver, this time with the lessons of the past firmly in view.
