Global AI glasses shipments could approach 100M units by 2030, growing at a 48% compound annual rate between 2026 and 2030, according to a new report from DigiTimes Research.

The report frames AI glasses as the next major access point for artificial intelligence — delivering what DigiTimes calls a “see what you see, hear what you hear” experience through a familiar eyewear form factor. Meta, Google, Samsung, and Apple are competing alongside fast-moving Chinese brands including Rokid, Alibaba, Xiaomi, and RayNeo.

DigiTimes examines the opportunity from three angles: functionality and the component supply chain, application scenarios such as content creation and navigation, and the purchase drivers behind mass adoption.

The central thesis is that myopic users and traditional optical retailers hold the key to scaling the category. Roughly 90% of eyewear purchases still happen through optical retailers, making retail partnerships and prescription-ready design critical for brands trying to move beyond early adopters.

Key component opportunities include MEMS microphones, which DigiTimes identifies as an emerging growth area within the AI glasses supply chain. On the application side, translation, navigation, and content creation are expected to drive the most immediate consumer use cases.

The report notes that the AI glasses market is entering a phase of rapid expansion, but scaling past early adopters will depend on solving form factor, power, and go-to-market challenges. Brands that partner with optical chains early could hold a significant advantage as the market matures.

Source: DigiTimes