Google’s New Smart Glasses. For Travelers: Live Translation, Navigation

By Admin

22 May, 2025

Skift Take:
Google’s smart glasses are set to be a major player in the emerging AI-powered wearables space, directly rivaling the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Built with advanced AI capabilities, they offer a new way for travelers to navigate the world — live translation, real-time navigation, and AI-powered interaction packed into a stylish wearable.

The Future of Travel Technology

Unveiled during the I/O developer conference, Google’s new smart glasses are built to be more than just a high-tech accessory — they’re a travel companion. Equipped with a camera, microphones, speakers, and optional in-lens display, these glasses offer hands-free convenience and privacy, connecting directly to the user’s phone and apps.

Eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker will be the first to integrate Google’s technology, with Warby Parker planning a post-2025 release. These glasses mark Google’s return to the smart eyewear space after its discontinued Google Glass project in 2015.

Live Translation in Real Time

One of the standout features for travelers is live translation. Google demonstrated this feature using Hindi and Farsi during the conference. A speaker would say a phrase in their native language, and the listener would see the English translation appear directly on their lenses. Although the demo experienced some glitches, the concept holds massive promise for breaking down language barriers globally.

Imagine navigating a foreign market or ordering food in a local café — now with instant translation on your glasses, it’s all possible without even pulling out your phone.

AI-Powered Navigation and Travel Assistance

In another live demo, product manager Nishtha Bhatia showcased how the glasses interact with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant. The glasses recognize places, remember visuals, and respond to voice commands to help users navigate unfamiliar cities.

For instance:

• “Gemini, what was the name of the coffee shop on the cup I had earlier?”
  
  

• “Can you show me photos of that café?”
  
  

• “Show me what it would take to walk there.”
  
  

The result? Step-by-step directions, 3D maps, and even calendar integration to schedule meetups — all visible through the lenses. It’s like having a local tour guide and personal assistant with you at all times.

Project Moohan XR Headset: Virtual Travel Comes Alive

In tandem with the smart glasses, Google introduced Project Moohan — a new XR headset powered by Android XR, developed with Samsung and Qualcomm. Slated for release later this year, this headset is designed to rival Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest.

It supports both virtual and augmented reality, letting users:

• Soar above cities with Google Maps in VR
  
  

• Explore landmarks as if on location
  
  

• Interact with immersive content and plan trips
  
  

• Watch live events, like MLB games, while conversing with Gemini
  
  

The device showcases multiple virtual screens, allowing users to browse maps, watch YouTube travel videos, and read blogs — all from the comfort of their living room.

The Competitive Edge

With AI now at the heart of travel and exploration, tech giants are racing to lead this next evolution of smart hardware. Google’s smart glasses — with voice translation, visual memory, real-time navigation, and personal assistant features — aim to be the most useful travel tool since the smartphone.

By partnering with fashion-forward brands and enhancing usability with Gemini AI, Google positions itself not just as a tech provider, but as a visionary reshaping how we experience the world.

Final Thought:
Whether you're walking through the streets of Florence, ordering coffee in Tehran, or simply planning your next adventure, Google’s new smart glasses promise to be the next big thing in wearable AI travel technology.