Veteran Regains Vision with Meta AI Smart Glasses
After three decades of blindness due to injuries sustained in the Gulf War, a veteran is seeing again, thanks to Meta’s AI smart glasses.
Don Overton, a former member of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division who lost his eyesight in an explosion, remarked, “As soon as I put on these glasses, I knew they were revolutionary.” He shared his experience at a lunch hosted by Mehta during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend in Washington, D.C.
The glasses, powered by voice commands, function as a virtual assistant. They can identify clothing colors, read menus while dining out, recognize faces, and provide navigational help when walking. What’s remarkable is that the audio is close enough for him to hear yet discreet enough that others can’t pick up on it.
Overton expressed gratitude, stating, “None of the different adaptive techniques I’ve tried over 30 years have given me the level of independence that these glasses have provided, nor have they really eased the burden on my wife, Peggy, who has been a tremendous caregiver for me.”
Initially launched in 2021, Meta’s glasses were primarily equipped with a camera for photos, short video recording, and music playback through open-ear speakers. However, a newer version introduced last September incorporated AI features, enabling users to visualize their surroundings and interact with the environment—answering questions, translating conversations in real time, and recalling earlier details from the day.
Meta has partnered with veterans to distribute these innovative glasses directly to blind veterans. As a result, sales of the glasses saw a threefold increase last year, making it Meta’s fastest-growing consumer electronics product.
During a recent luncheon celebrating small businesses, the glasses were highlighted and even drew unexpected enthusiasm. Entertainer Oz Perlman, this year’s WHCD performer, wished he had the glasses after an incident involving a shootout while near the president.
In another noteworthy moment, Melania Trump had her own experience with the glasses at a White House event attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla. Students offered her a chance to try on the glasses, which she accepted, much to the Queen’s apparent disapproval.
Now, Meta aims to direct the AI capabilities of the glasses toward the 200 million small businesses on its platform. At the luncheon, various small business owners, including Lamonique Cosmetics and Live Bearded, shared how they already utilize Meta’s tools.
In February, Meta launched a Small Business Initiative, intending to incorporate new AI resources for the millions of small businesses on its platform. The company’s advertising technology generated $550 billion in U.S. economic activity last year, providing support for 3.4 million jobs. As regulatory challenges loom over its core advertising business, Meta is counting on small businesses to drive future growth.
Dina Powell McCormick, who previously led Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, is now at the helm of Meta’s efforts in this area. She noted, “Only 20% of American small business owners are using AI,” adding that those who do are seeing significant growth in revenue and market share.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, expressed a desire to equip people with tools that would have been beneficial during his childhood on a ranch. He concluded, “We’re trying to give people online tools that we believe will do great things for them.”
