Meta announced Tuesday that it is rolling out an update to its AI-powered smart glasses that makes it easier to hear conversations in loud environments. According to the company, the feature will initially be available on Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses in the U.S. and Canada.
The update also introduces a separate feature that lets users play Spotify music based on what they are currently looking at. For example, if someone looks at an album cover, the glasses can start playing a song by that artist. Looking at a Christmas tree and wrapped gifts could prompt holiday music. While largely a novelty, the feature highlights Meta’s broader vision of linking visual context to actions within apps.
The new conversation-focused audio enhancement is more practical. First unveiled at Meta’s Connect conference earlier this year, the feature uses the glasses’ open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person you’re speaking with. Meta says users will be able to fine-tune the amplification level either by swiping the right temple of the glasses or through device settings. This allows the feature to adapt to different environments, such as crowded restaurants, bars, clubs, commuter trains, or other noisy spaces.
How effective the feature will be remains to be seen, but Meta isn’t alone in exploring smart wearables as hearing aids. Apple’s AirPods already include a Conversation Boost feature designed to emphasize nearby voices, and newer AirPods Pro models also support a clinical-grade Hearing Aid mode.
While the conversation enhancement is limited to the U.S. and Canada, the Spotify visual-based playback feature will be available in English across a wider set of markets, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K., and the U.S.
The software update, version 21, will first roll out to users enrolled in Meta’s Early Access Program, which requires joining a waitlist and receiving approval. A broader release is planned for a later date.
