HTC is now in the AI smart glasses race. Thomas Dexmier, VP of Sales and Marketing at HTC VIVE, came on the Metavertising Podcast to talk about Vive Eagle, the company's first pair. We recorded a few days before they went on sale in Europe.

Thomas has been at HTC for more than 15 years. Smartphones, then Vive and VR, now this. He says 2026 feels a lot like 2016, with one big difference. Back then HTC was asking people to step into the technology. This time the technology has to disappear into something people already wear on their face all day.

We go through the hardware: 49 grams, Zeiss lenses, a 12MP camera that shoots 3K video, 32GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, four microphones and open-ear speakers. The part I find more interesting is what HTC decided not to do, which is lock you into one AI. Vive AI sits on top as the experience layer, you pick between models like GPT and Gemini, and developers can point the SDK at their own enterprise LLM.

Then privacy, which is where every smart glasses conversation ends up right now. The recording LED is enforced in hardware, so covering it up does not get you a secret camera. Sensors know when the glasses come off your face. And if I am recording you and you are not happy about it, you can say "stop recording" out loud and Eagle stops, in English, French, German or Spanish. I had not seen that anywhere else, and it is one of the better answers I have heard to the camera problem.

We also talk about why opticians and Silmo Paris matter more to this launch than a shelf in a consumer electronics store, and why Thomas thinks the B2B side may end up bigger than consumer. Underneath all of it sits a question I keep coming back to. The industry has spent 20 years monetising the screen. What happens when the interface is your voice?

Vive Eagle went on sale on 3 September and ships from 21 September, starting at 469 euros, or 559 euros with the photochromic Zeiss lenses.

In this episode:

• Why AI smart glasses have to be glasses first and technology second
• Launching VR in 2016 versus launching AI glasses in 2026
• HTC's case for letting you choose your own AI model
• SDK access, enterprise LLMs and the B2B use cases HTC is already seeing
• Hardware enforced privacy and the "stop recording" command
• Opticians, telcos and Silmo Paris: selling glasses, not gadgets
• Frames, colours and the three Zeiss lens configurations
• Whether smart glasses really are the computing platform after the smartphone

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Follow Metavertising for conversations with the people building immersive tech and smart glasses.

• Connect with Thomas Dexmier
• Connect with Ely Santos
• Details on the HTC VIVE Eagle: https://www.vive.com

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AI smart glasses, HTC Vive Eagle, HTC VIVE, smart glasses privacy, Thomas Dexmier, Vive AI, Zeiss smart glasses, AI glasses Europe, GPT glasses, Gemini glasses, wearable AI, spatial computing, XR, enterprise smart glasses, smart glasses launch 2026, Metavertising

Camera-free smart glasses just hit a $1 billion valuation. Even Realities is betting that the winning pair of AI glasses is the one you forget you are wearing.

In this episode of Metavertising, host Ely Santos sits down with Raag Harshavat, developer ecosystem lead at Even Realities and previously at Snap Inc. and Meta, to unpack how the Even G2 became one of the most-worn devices in the smart glasses category without a single camera on board.

Raag breaks down the design decisions behind a 36 gram pair of glasses that runs for two days on one charge, why Even Realities builds its own prescription lenses in its own factory, and how a monochrome green micro LED waveguide display turns out to be a feature rather than a compromise. He also shares what happened when he ran live translation for twelve straight hours in China, and why "quiet tech" and ambient computing describe something very different from what most of the industry is shipping right now.

For developers and creative technologists, this is a practical map of the Even Hub ecosystem: 400+ apps and climbing, a JavaScript-based SDK, a desktop simulator, and a Claude skill that makes vibe coding your own glasses app a realistic weekend project.

In this episode:

👓 What the Even G2 and R1 ring actually do, explained from scratch🔇 Quiet tech and ambient computing: the case for glasses that disappear🌏 12 hours of live translation in China, and why session-based devices cannot do it🔒 No camera: constraint or deliberate choice, and what it solves for bystander privacy🟢 Why the display is monochrome green, and how that buys battery life and outdoor readability🛠️ Shipping your first G2 app: SDK, simulator, docs, Discord, and vibe coding💼 Enterprise use cases, monetization, and why now is an interesting moment to build

Timestamps

00:00 Intro: who is Raag Harshavat01:03 From Snap and Meta to Even Realities03:28 Why Even Realities, and what unicorn status signals05:33 What the Even G2 and R1 ring actually do09:08 Quiet tech and ambient computing explained13:31 Running live translation for 12 hours in China17:15 No camera: constraint or choice20:12 Why the display is monochrome green21:45 400+ apps on Even Hub and what people are building29:02 How to ship your first G2 app33:50 What is next for Even Realities and its developers36:04 Where to find Raag

Connect with Raag Harshavat: LinkedIn, Instagram
Build for the Even G2: hub.evenrealities.com
Connect with host Ely Santos: LinkedIn

Building for glasses? DM Ely on LinkedIn to join the Vibe Glass community, a group focused entirely on smart glasses development.

If this episode was useful, follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who still thinks smart glasses are years away.

#SmartGlasses #AIGlasses #EvenRealities #EvenG2 #AmbientComputing #XR #AR #WearableTech #SpatialComputing #DeveloperEcosystem #Metavertising

Is China quietly shaping the future of smart glasses & AI glasses?

In this episode of Metavertising, Ely Santos sits down with Sylvan Shen, XR Technical Producer at Emmy-winning immersive studio No Ghost, China Reporter at ImmersiveWire, and builder of demos for Meta Quest, Snap Spectacles, Meta Ray-Ban glasses, and other smart glasses platforms.

Together, they unpack one of the most important but under-discussed areas of the XR industry: China’s smart glasses ecosystem.

While most conversations around XR focus on Meta, Apple, or Snap, China is moving incredibly fast across hardware, AI, manufacturing, and real-world use cases. Sylvan breaks down why Chinese smart glasses companies may offer a glimpse into where wearable computing is heading next.

In this episode, we cover:

• The 4 categories of smart glasses: audio-first glasses, portable display glasses, AI camera glasses, and full AI + AR glasses.
• Why the simplest smart glasses are winning today, even though the dream is still full AR.
• How China’s hardware manufacturing ecosystem gives local companies a major speed advantage.
• Why Shenzhen and Guangdong are sometimes called the “hardware Silicon Valley."
• The privacy concerns around smart glasses — and why they become even more sensitive when AI is involved.
• How Chinese brands are approaching privacy, compliance, GDPR, and international certifications.
• Why companies like XREAL, RayNeo, Rokid, Alibaba, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Even Realities are taking very different strategies.
• Why real-time translation, payments, productivity, gaming, and smart home control are major use cases in China.
• The difference between Western and Chinese consumer behavior when it comes to smart glasses.
• Why developer communities may be the missing piece for Chinese smart glasses to go global.
• How open-source AI models and user choice could influence the future of AI-powered wearables.

If you’re a developer, founder, marketer, investor, or XR enthusiast trying to understand the next wave of wearable computing, this episode is a must-listen.

Guest: Sylvan Shen - XR Technical Producer, China Reporter at ImmersiveWire
Host: Ely Santos - Metavertising Podcast

Follow Sylvan Shen on LinkedIn.
Follow Ely Santos on LinkedIn.

🎧 Enjoying Metavertising? Hit Follow, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and share this episode with someone who thinks the smart glasses race is only happening in Silicon Valley.

#Metavertising #SmartGlasses #AIGlasses #AR #XR #Wearables #SpatialComputing #ChinaTech #MetaRayBan #SnapSpectacles

Are AI glasses finally having their iPhone moment?

In this episode of Metavertising, Ely Santos sits down with Oscar Falmer, Wearables Developer Advocate at Meta, to unpack why Meta AI glasses are gaining real consumer traction after years of AR hype, headset experiments, and false starts.

Oscar has spent nearly a decade in XR, previously working in Developer Relations at Apple and Snap, helping developers build AR experiences for mobile, social platforms, and wearable devices. Now at Meta, he supports developers creating content for Meta AI glasses.

Together, we explore why the winning form factor may not be full AR glasses yet, but lightweight AI glasses that people actually want to wear every day.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why mobile AR and social AR were important stepping stones, but never the final form.

• Why AI glasses are working now: lightweight design, long battery life, camera, audio, and multimodal AI.

• The most valuable use cases today, from hands-free memories to real-time contextual assistance.

• How developers can build for Meta Ray-Ban glasses using camera, microphone, speakers, and phone-based processing.

• Why developers should not ignore the massive non-display smart glasses audience.

• Where the money is today: client work, museums, venues, enterprise, factory workers, and AI-powered tour guides.

• What developers need to know about privacy, LEDs, recording safeguards, and responsible use.

• Oscar’s smart glasses industry tracker, and what it reveals about hardware, optics, controllers, SDKs, and China’s fast-moving ecosystem.

• Why China may offer a glimpse into where smart glasses and wearables are heading next.

If you’re a developer, founder, marketer, museum innovator, or brand strategist trying to understand the next computing platform, this episode is a practical look at what is real, what is coming, and where the opportunity may be.

Guest: Oscar Falmer — Wearables Developer Advocate at Meta
Host: Ely Santos — Metavertising Podcast

• Follow Oscar Falmer on LinkedIn and X/Twitter.
• Follow Ely Santos on LinkedIn.

🎧 Enjoying Metavertising? Hit Follow, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and share this episode with someone who still thinks smart glasses are just a gadget.

#Metavertising #SmartGlasses #MetaAI #RayBanMeta #AR #XR #Wearables #SpatialComputing #AIGlasses #DeveloperTools

Is the next $500M entertainment franchise hiding inside a Roblox game your kids are already playing? In this Metavertising episode, Ely Santos sits down with James Purell — founder of Building Blocks, Roblox verified creator, and the mind behind one of the largest Roblox news accounts @RBXevents_ — to unpack how games like Steal a Brain Rot, Grow a Garden and Dress to Impress are quietly becoming the new Marvel-style IP factories.

They dive deep into what brands get wrong on Roblox, how UGC worlds beat traditional ad formats, and why the smartest move for IP owners might be to partner with fan-made games instead of shutting them down.

🔊 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why James believes the next Marvel-level IP will emerge from UGC gaming—and why Roblox outpaces Minecraft and Fortnite for this.

• The Roblox numbers that matter: 112M+ DAU, record-shattering CCU peaks, and more players than all consoles combined.

• How a Roblox game can evolve into animated YouTube series, toys, plushies and eventually Netflix/Hulu deals—without starting with a massive budget.

• The “MVP startup way” to build IP: test fast with simple mechanics, AI-generated assets, then polish once the core loop and audience are proven.

• Why most brand-built Roblox worlds flop—and how to win instead by integrating into existing hits (think: Bridge Battles x Coca-Cola-style collabs).

• The simple core loop rule: how games like Plants vs Brain Rot remix proven mechanics instead of reinventing the wheel.

• Metrics that actually matter for brands: session time, engagement and brand interaction minutes, not just vanity visits or CCU spikes.

• How Adidas, Minions and Blue Lock became case studies in doing it right—by collaborating with creators, embracing culture, and even legitimizing “unofficial” fan games.

• Why Roblox is one of the only platforms where your brand can both advertise AND generate direct revenue from the experience itself.

Whether you’re a CMO thinking about Gen Alpha, a game studio eyeing transmedia IP, or a brand wondering if Roblox is “worth it,” this episode gives you a brutally honest, battle-tested playbook.

🔗 Connect with JamesLinkedIn: James PurellX / Twitter (Roblox news & events): @RBXevents_

🔗 Connect with ElyLinkedIn: Ely Santos

🎧 Enjoying Metavertising?
Hit Follow, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and share this episode with someone on your team who still thinks Roblox is “just a kids’ game.”

#Metavertising #Roblox #UGCgaming #GenAlpha #BrandIP #MetaverseMarketing

Meta Connect had hiccups—but did it just spark the mainstream AR era? XR developer Tom Krikorian (Studio 84) joins Ely Santos to unpack first impressions of Ray-Ban Display, why the EMG wristband is the real breakthrough, and what devs need before this market explodes. We get candid about Horizon Worlds, Meta’s SDK (or lack of it), and Apple’s tight ecosystem + on-device AI advantage.

In this episode:

• Hands-on with Ray-Ban Display: one-eye HUD, real-world navigation, where it shines—and where it strains.

• The wristband wow-factor: finger-level intent control that finally feels ready for prime time.

• Developer reality check: unstable stacks, shifting roadmaps, and why an SDK + clear monetization path are non-negotiable.

• Meta vs. Apple: open ambitions vs. end-to-end optimization (iPhone, processors, on-device AI). Who’s better positioned?

• Early use cases that actually stick: notifications without the phone, live captions, travel translation, and accessibility.

• The Horizon Worlds debate: chasing Roblox—or losing the VR plot?

  
  

Guest: Tom Krikorian — visionOS/XR developer, Studio 84;
Host: Ely Santos — Metavertising Podcast.

If you’re building for XR—or betting your brand on the next wave of consumer wearables—this is your field guide to what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s coming next.

🎧 Enjoyed this convo? Tap Follow, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and share with someone who still thinks AR glasses are “years away.”
#AR #XR #AppleVisionPro #RayBanDisplay #Metavertising

🛠️ Design Like Tony Stark: XR, AI & the Industrial Metaverse with Siemens’ Ben Widdowson

Think Jarvis-style voice commands and holographic prototypes are still sci-fi? 🚀 In this episode, host Ely Santos sits down with Ben Widdowson—Head of Marketing for Immersive Engineering at Siemens—to break down how extended reality, real-time CAD, and AI copilots are already reshaping the way Sony and other manufacturers build the products you love.

🔊 Press play to learn:

• Why the “digital thread” matters—and how breaking it kills speed, quality, and sustainability.

• Sony’s secret weapon: a headset + software stack purpose-built for engineering, not gaming.

• 25 % productivity? Try weeks-to-minutes. Real-world wins in automotive, furniture, and consumer electronics.

• From desktop to design cave: what true-scale digital twins do that 2-D screens never can.

• Voice-controlled CAD & generative-AI prompts—how close we are to full Jarvis workflows.

• The hardware roadmap: smart glasses vs. “heavy-lift” headsets (and where each one wins).

Whether you’re a product designer, XR dev, or marketer chasing the next tech wave, this conversation is your cheat-code to the industrial metaverse.

Connect with Ben → LinkedIn @ Ben Widdowson
Follow Ely → LinkedIn @ Ely Santos

🎧 Enjoying Metavertising? Tap Follow, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and share the episode with a friend who still thinks XR is “just for gamers.”

#IndustrialMetaverse #XR #AI #ProductDesign #Siemens #Sony #Metavertising

🎮 From Roblox to Record-Breaking Reach: How Brands Can Win Gen Alpha with Animation

Think Roblox is “just a game”? Think again. In this episode, host Ely Santos sits down with Will Bryan—co-founder of Yes Sir Media and indie-film-turned-metaverse storyteller—to reveal why the blocky platform may be the most cost-effective, culture-native way to launch IP, super-charge YouTube retention, and spark the next Skibidi-level phenomenon.

Hit play to learn:

• Why Roblox’s “janky” graphics actually outperform AAA visuals with kids—and how studios are turning that quirk into comedy gold 🎨

• The YouTube blueprint Will swears by: killer hook, mid-episode peak, 30-second pattern breaks & a cliff-hanger that demands the next click ⏩

• How brands can adapt legacy IP—or launch something totally new—without tripping over Roblox’s TOS or losing creative control 📜

• The secret “meme flywheel” that turns episodes into TikTok-ready moments fans remix, repost, and make their own 🔄

• What it will take to birth “the next Skibidi Toilet”—and why bravery beats formula every time 🚀

Whether you’re a marketer hunting fresh channels, a studio chasing faster pipelines, or a creator dreaming of billion-view fame, this conversation is your cheat-code to metaverse-first storytelling.

🔗 Connect with Will on LinkedIn
🔗 Follow Ely on LinkedIn

💡 Liked the episode? Rate, review, and hit Follow so you never miss the trends redefining Metavertising.

#MetaverseMarketing #RobloxAnimation #GenAlpha #BrandStorytelling #PodcastSEO