Seeing the World Through AI Glasses: A Glimpse into the Future
Lower Street's Evelyn Hill explores the possibilities and challenges in this thought-provoking episode of Imagine This....
Evelyn Hill
December 13, 2024
Imagine it’s 2030. You’re walking through your neighborhood when a “For Sale” sign catches your eye. Instantly, you know the house’s price, taxes, and even what it looks like inside—all without lifting a finger. No phone, no search—just a glance. What’s behind this futuristic scenario? AI-powered smart glasses.
We’re always on the hunt for more knowledge. With the evolution of technology, the internet, and now AI, our curiosity drives us and we look for ways to know more, more quickly. Now, imagine a world where the knowledge you need is always in view, ready to guide your every move.
That’s the kind of thought-provoking scenario explored in Imagine This…, a podcast from BCG. Hosted by journalist Patricia Sabga and her sharp-witted AI co-host, GENE, the show takes us into the future to explore all the hypothetical, or very real situations we could be facing. With the help of BCG experts, Patricia and GENE look at how technologies and trends could reshape the world and the decisions leaders make today.
Today, I want to share with you one episode in particular: Seeing the World Through AI Glasses. In this episode, the team explores the potential of AI-powered smart glasses. Joining the discussion is Kristi Woolsey, a visionary leader from BCG X Spatial Studio, who shares how these glasses could change everything from the way we work to how we interact with each other.
Curious? Keep reading—or if you’d rather listen right now, here’s the link:
AI Glasses - The Reality of Today
AI Smart Glasses are already out there, and they are improving day after day. These aren’t just an upgrade from your smartphone. They’ve got way more to offer than that. Merging augmented reality (AR) with artificial intelligence (AI), they promise to make your life easier, more informed, and seamlessly connected. But as with any disruptive technology, they bring challenges that need serious consideration.
The Evolution of Smart Glasses: From Flops to Game-Changers
Smart glasses have flirted with consumers before, but early versions never really took off. Clunky designs, slow image loading, and awkward voice recognition didn’t win many fans. So, what’s changed?
Kristi Woolsey, Associate Director at BCG and leader of the BCG X Spatial Studio explains that advancements in computer vision and voice recognition have solved many of these issues. Today’s AI is faster, more intuitive, and capable of integrating into everyday life. These glasses don’t just display information—they work with you, turning every glance into an opportunity to learn, act, or connect.
There’s been a ton of advances in vision technology and what we can see. The ability to put AI in front of your eyes rather than just on your screen… makes it much more of my collaborator in the real space, in the physical world.
For instance, picture waking up to a subtle notification in your field of vision reminding you of your day’s schedule. Need a recipe for dinner? Look at an ingredient, and suggestions instantly appear. These glasses transform the mundane into a blend of convenience and functionality, almost like having a personal assistant embedded in your sight.
Transforming the Workplace
AI glasses could also revolutionize how we work. Businesses are already exploring their potential to train and support employees in using this new technology. Woolsey highlights industries like maintenance and repair, where expert knowledge is often passed down through hands-on experience.
These glasses can provide real-time instructions, overlaying step-by-step guides directly onto the equipment being repaired. They also enable remote mentorship, where an experienced technician can view what a trainee sees and provide live guidance. This is a game-changer in industries facing skill shortages due to retiring experts.
“If I’ve got that senior expertise looking through my glasses, suddenly that senior expertise can support… 10 or 20 [people],” Kristi Woolsey explains. “We’re talking about transferring knowledge faster and more effectively.”
Benefits go way beyond just speed. Training with AI glasses can boost retention rates by 30-40% because they tap into muscle memory. Woolsey draws an analogy to learning the piano: your hands often remember what your brain forgets. Similarly, repetitive, hands-on practice with AI guidance makes complex tasks second nature.
GENE, Imagine This’s AI co-host, brings up another excellent point: businesses can use these glasses for workflow monitoring, safety compliance, and efficiency improvements without intrusive oversight. The result? A blend of autonomy and guidance that redefines on-the-job learning and management.
While the potential benefits are quite impressive for businesses, the social implications are less clear-cut. With great power comes great responsibility—or in the case of smart glasses, great privacy concerns.
Imagine glasses capable of reading emotions or detecting micro-expressions. They could tell you whether your colleague trusts you—or if your date is as into you as you hope.
This might sound helpful, but it risks oversimplifying human interactions.
“I think it’s important to consider the deterioration of relationships based on what we think we see,” Woolsey warns.
Relationships are complex, and relying on AI to interpret emotions could lead to misunderstandings or even harm. For example, a fleeting moment of fear might be misread as distrust, setting off a chain reaction of miscommunication.
The question isn’t just about what the glasses can do but how we use them responsibly.
Woolsey stresses the need especially for companies to lead with transparency and high ethical standards. Businesses need to clearly define how AI is used and make sure it respects user privacy and autonomy.
Beyond Sight: Expanding Human Abilities
We’ve covered how AI glasses could change how we see things, but they aren’t just for enhancing sight. They could work with other sensory technologies to create multi-sensory experiences. Woolsey mentions experiments where virtual reality (VR) devices simulate touch—like the sensation of rain through carefully directed air jets.
This opens the door for glasses to become powerful accessibility tools. They could offer subtitles for the hearing impaired, enhanced contrast for those with visual impairments, or even audio descriptions for the blind. “Having that AI companion could truly empower individuals to navigate the world more independently,” Woolsey mentions.
Industries Poised for Transformation
AI smart glasses could come into play across many industries. Woolsey envisions a seismic shift in entertainment. For instance, we might not be far off from watching a movie where elements leap out of the screen and into our living rooms.
Advertising could also change dramatically. Brands might create personalized, location-specific ads that appear in your line of sight, tailoring messages in real-time based on your preferences. It may sound a little intrusive, but it’s just one of the potential aspects we could see in the changing digital age.
Preparing for the Future
So, what should leaders do to prepare for a future with AI Smart Glasses? GENE offers three things for CEOs and business owners to start thinking about
1. Build Trust: Work on developing transparent AI policies that prioritize user privacy and ethical use. Set boundaries to respect your employees’ privacy while using this technology.
2. Train for Collaboration: Equip employees with the skills to work alongside AI tools. While they can make life easier, they may take some getting used to. Set up training to ease your employees into this new step.
3. Innovate Actively: Test and refine user experiences before launching any new AI smart glasses workflows at scale.
This is not a linear journey. It’s about making something, learning from it, and designing iteratively.
Start small, learn from early tests, and adapt as you go. Building a governance framework is essential, but it must evolve through real-world application.
Final Thoughts on Seeing the World Through AI Glasses
Exploring the potential of AI-powered smart glasses gives us a glimpse into a future where our perception of reality is fundamentally changed, and enhanced. From transforming industries to reshaping how we learn and interact, their potential is enormous. But as with all powerful tools, the key lies in how we use them.
The future is coming into focus. Are you ready to see it through AI’s eyes?
Listen to the full episode here:
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