Meta's Latest Innovation: Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses

Meta Platforms, Inc., known simply as Meta, is a leading American multinational technology company headquartered in Menlo Park, California, best known for its ownership of major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads[1]. Founded in 2004 as TheFacebook, Inc., it rebranded to Facebook, Inc. in 2005 and adopted the Meta name in 2021 to signal its strategic pivot towards building the "metaverse"—a digital ecosystem integrating virtual and augmented reality technologies[1]. Meta primarily generates revenue through advertising, which constituted approximately 97.8% of its total income as of 2023[1]. The company is a key player among Big Tech firms, alongside Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon, with a market capitalization of about $1.585 trillion as of early 2025[6]. It has a vast global user base, with Facebook alone boasting hundreds of millions of users in countries like India (378 million), the U.S. (194 million), Indonesia, and Brazil, supported by extensive localization efforts for over 111 languages[6]. Meta invests heavily in research and development, spending $35.3 billion in 2022, making it the world’s third-largest R&D spender[1]. Its current focus emphasizes artificial intelligence (AI) and superintelligence, with major investments such as a multibillion-dollar funding round in AI startup Scale AI in 2025, and the development of advanced AI models like Llama 4.1 and 4.2 through its Meta Superintelligence Labs[1][2]. This AI-driven shift reflects Meta’s evolving mission to empower individual users through personalized digital experiences, moving beyond its original social networking identity[2]. In addition to social media and AI, Meta pursues innovation in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) hardware, notably through products like Meta Quest VR headsets and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses,

Ray-Ban is a globally renowned Italian-owned brand specializing in luxury sunglasses and eyeglasses, celebrated for its iconic designs, innovative technology, and enduring influence on fashion and pop culture. Founded in 1936 by American company Bausch & Lomb, Ray-Ban’s origins are rooted in military innovation: the brand was created to address the needs of U.S. Army Air Corps pilots, who required sunglasses that could reduce glare and protect their eyes at high altitudes. The original “Anti-Glare” prototype, featuring green lenses and plastic frames, evolved into the legendary Ray-Ban Aviator, patented in 1938. This model, along with the introduction of the Wayfarer in 1952, cemented Ray-Ban’s reputation for timeless style and quality craftsmanship. Ray-Ban’s commitment to innovation is evident in its pioneering use of anti-glare and gradient lenses, as well as its adoption of impact-resistant materials. Over the decades, the brand has become synonymous with celebrity culture, worn by icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Tom Cruise, and Michael Jackson, further solidifying its status as a fashion staple. In 1999, Ray-Ban was acquired by Italian eyewear conglomerate Luxottica Group for $640 million, marking a new era of global expansion and product diversification. Today, Ray-Ban continues to lead the eyewear industry with a blend of classic designs and cutting-edge technology. In 2025, the brand made headlines by appointing ASAP Rocky as its first-ever creative director and launching the Meta Ray-Ban Display, its first augmented reality glasses in partnership with Meta Corporation. This move underscores Ray-Ban’s ongoing commitment to merging fashion with technological advancement, ensuring its relevance in an ever-evolving market.