Meta Platforms Inc. is making two major moves that highlight its aggressive pivot toward artificial intelligence and wearable technology. The company announced the May 25 launch of its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses in South Korea, developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. This expansion introduces Wayfarer, Square, Headliner, Vanguard, and HSTN designs, each equipped with a 12-megapixel camera, 3K video, and open-ear audio. The rollout is part of a multi-billion-dollar partnership valued at around $5 billion, as Meta aims to dominate the smart eyewear market—having already sold an estimated 7 million units globally, with Ray-Ban Meta sales alone hitting roughly 2 million units since 2023.
Despite the ambitious hardware push, Meta shares dipped slightly, reflecting investor caution. Analysts point to the segment’s still-modest revenue contribution compared to Meta’s core advertising business, while privacy concerns—such as the visibility of the LED recording indicator in bright light and data handling for AI training—continue to fuel public unease. CTO Andrew Bosworth has acknowledged that widespread adoption hinges on resolving these social acceptance issues.
Simultaneously, Meta is embarking on a sweeping internal restructuring set to begin May 20. Reports indicate the company will cut approximately 10% of its workforce, or around 8,000 employees, with total reductions possibly reaching 20% later in 2026. At the same time, roughly 7,000 employees will be reassigned to AI-focused divisions, including teams working on automation, AI agents, and productivity tools. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s drive to become an “AI-native” company reflects a broader Big Tech trend where firms streamline operations while pouring resources into artificial intelligence.
For crypto markets, such AI-heavy restructuring narratives resonate because of growing synergies between blockchain infrastructure, decentralized computing, and AI applications. While Meta’s moves are not directly crypto-related, the accelerating AI race often influences sentiment around decentralized AI and compute token projects.
