Google’s Sergey Brin admits making many mistakes with Google Glass

Sergey Brin admits mistakes with Google Glass and backs AI-driven smart glasses with hefty investment.

: During a Google I/O 2025 interview, Sergey Brin acknowledged his past errors with Google Glass, emphasizing a lack of consumer electronics expertise and challenges in creating affordable smart glasses. With renewed efforts and collaborations with companies like Warby Parker, Google aims to enhance smart glasses using AI, supported by a $150 million investment. Brin, out of retirement, is now deeply involved with Google's AI projects, particularly in developing multimodal capabilities like Veo 3. He urged the tech community to focus on AI, citing significant advancements since the initial Google Glass era.

Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, openly acknowledged mistakes made during the development and deployment of the Google Glass project. Speaking at Google I/O 2025 in a surprise appearance with Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, he admitted to a lack of knowledge regarding consumer electronics supply chains and the complexity of making smart glasses affordable. Despite these challenges, Brin remains a supporter of the smart glasses concept.

nThe need to reboot the smart glasses initiative with robust partnerships marks a striking shift in Google's approach. They are now working with major players like Samsung and Xreal, and especially investing up to $150 million in a partnership with Warby Parker to bolster their capabilities. This renewed venture aims to address the former supply chain issues and bring improved versions of smart eyewear to the market.

The newly unveiled Android XR glasses are expected to deliver remarkable features, such as real-time translations, navigation assistance, and general AI-powered inquiries. These functions are part of Google’s effort to harness DeepMind’s Project Astra, focusing on integrating advanced AI technologies that were not present when Google Glass first launched.​

Brin also talked about his renewed role at Google, particularly in aiding the development of Google’s Gemini, an ambitious AI effort. He expressed that in an era where AI is transforming industries, any competent computer scientist should be hard at work. He emphasized the potential of generative AI to revolutionize user interaction with technology, enhancing everyday capabilities beyond what was possible with the original Glass.

His direct involvement underscores his belief in AI's transformative power, propelling him to return actively to Google's hub in Mountain View, California. By working closely with teams on projects like Veo 3, a video-generating AI model, Brin urged Google employees to keep the momentum going with directives like working 60 hours a week to outpace competitors.

Sources: TechCrunch, New York Times

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