Snap Inc. has announced new experiences, partnerships and AI capabilities for SPECS, its augmented reality glasses designed to bring digital information and computing into users’ everyday surroundings.
The company introduced SPECS Intelligence, an anticipatory AI service designed to work across iPhone, Mac and SPECS glasses. It is intended to understand users’ goals, routines and priorities and surface relevant information without waiting for a prompt. An iOS preview is available in the US, while Mac early access is invitation-only.
“SPECS are built from the ground up to make computing more human,” said Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO, Snap Inc. “They’re incredibly easy to use and bring new experiences into the world that you can share together with friends and family. I’m so excited about the new ways SPECS can help you get things done, with your head up and your hands free.”
SPECS will offer experiences spanning entertainment, education, fitness, navigation, translation and shopping. Users can stream content through virtual displays, access interactive learning experiences such as Apollo 11 and Starmap, and use real-time translation with support for 60 languages.
Snap is also partnering with the NBA and WNBA on interactive basketball experiences, while Connected Lenses will allow two SPECS users to share digital experiences including Chess, Table Tennis and Dominoes with Jimmy Butler.
The glasses can connect to smartphones for calls, notifications and music, while Tripadvisor and Shopify integrations will support travel discovery and 3D shopping experiences.
Snap said privacy is built into SPECS, which do not use facial recognition or continuously record the environment. An external LED indicates when photos, video or audio are being captured.
Consumers can try SPECS in person at SPECS First Look at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles from October 1.
