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Warby Parker’s $150 Million Google Goggles

Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-C.E.O. of the Millennial-beloved eyewear brand, discusses its big, Google-backed bet on A.I.-powered smartglasses—and how he plans to get people to wear them.

Neil Blumenthal
For many industry observers, user adoption remains the biggest question hanging over the category—a fact that Warby Parker co-C.E.O. Neil Blumenthal somewhat acknowledged. Photo: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Malique Morris
May 22, 2026

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Smartglasses are still not really a thing. Not even Ray-Ban has managed to make its partnership with Meta culturally ubiquitous. Last year, however, D.T.C. prescription eyewear player Warby Parker secured a $75 million investment from Google to develop its own version—one that, ideally, would succeed where its larger competitor had struggled. On Tuesday, Warby teased its first prototype: a classic rounded frame made from ultra-light nylon that can schedule appointments and play Spotify. The style, powered by Google’s A.I. technology, will be part of a broader eyewear launch this fall.