Kering Eyewear Just Announced A Partnership With Google

In a move that sounds straight out of a sci-fi rom-com directed by Wes Anderson, Google and Kering Eyewear have joined forces to bring us a pair of AI-powered smart glasses that promise not to make you look like an off-duty cyborg.

The collab fuses Google’s Android XR tech (that’s extended reality, not a new phone) with Kering Eyewear’s fashion-forward finesse — think Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent — all wrapped into one sleek, intelligent wearable. The goal? To create a pair of specs you’ll actually want to wear while subtly flexing your tech credentials.

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Image courtesy of Business Wire

These aren’t your dad’s clunky AR goggles. The soon-to-drop eyewear will blend Kering’s design DNA with Google’s immersive features, offering everything from context-aware prompts to smart interactions — all powered by personalised AI. Basically, glasses that know when you’re lost, distracted, or just trying to discreetly Google someone at a party.

“Together, we are shaping a product that people will want to wear: a pair of masterfully designed, high-quality, stylish glasses that unlock the potential of artificial intelligence,” said Roberto Vedovotto, Founder, President and CEO of Kering Eyewear. He added that the collab with Google is about “redefining the way of interacting with both the real and virtual worlds.” Stylish and self-aware? We’re listening.

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Shahram Izadi, GM and VP of XR at Google, added: “We’ve always believed in blending cutting-edge technology with great user experiences. Integrating our immersive XR platform with Kering Eyewear’s iconic styles will give consumers the fashion and function to get the most out of Android XR.”

While we haven’t seen a prototype yet (please no bulky lenses or wraparound visors), it’s clear the pair want to design something that blends into daily life — less Tony Stark, more ‘chic person at a gallery who also happens to be navigating with AI-enhanced overlays.’

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For context: Kering Eyewear was founded in 2014 and is the go-to luxury eyewear player for brands like Gucci, Cartier, Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta. They also own LINDBERG and Maui Jim, so this isn’t their first time around the optical block.

Smart glasses have had a rocky history, but with Google’s tech clout and Kering’s high-end clout, this could be the stylish, smart, and socially acceptable wearable we’ve been waiting for.