Halliday’s Smart Glasses Feature ‘proactive AI’

The problem with a lot of smart glasses and headsets is that it isn’t always designed with users with prescription glasses in mind. Halliday is challenging that narrative with its new smart glasses that the company unveiled at CES 2025. These smart glasses will play nicely with users that wear prescription lenses, and one of the more interesting features is its so-called “proactive AI”.

The thing with AI right now is that it is more reactionary than anticipatory. This means that users need to ask it questions before it works. According to Halliday, its smart glasses will feature proactive AI. This means that the AI can anticipate your needs without you having to ask it.

The system listens to your conversations, analyzes them, and provides answers to any prompts that come up. This could be useful in meetings or interviews where users don’t have to wait and enter the prompt to get an answer.

In a way, it sounds exactly like how AI should work. The downside lies in the potential privacy implications, including where the data is stored and who can access it.

Built-in display

Most smart glasses or headsets feature displays built right into the lens itself. It makes sense, but Halliday has opted for a different approach. Instead, the company has positioned a tiny display in the frame that sits above your right eye. Halliday says that this will project a 3.5-inch equivalent screen into your view.

The company also claims that onlookers can barely see it and that the display remains visible even under strong light. It’s not a bad idea. It’s what allows the glasses to weigh just 35 grams. However, only time will tell if this design will work as intended.

Multiple controls

When it comes to controlling the Halliday smart glasses, users have several different ways to go about it. One of those is by using voice commands. If you prefer something less obvious, the sides of the glasses are touch-sensitive. Lastly, for the truly discreet, there is a bundled ring that doubles as a trackpad. This lets users control the glasses without being too obvious.

Pricing & availability

Minus the creepy proactive AI feature, the Halliday smart glasses sound pretty cool. It’s also great that it works with users with prescription glasses. If you’re keen on picking one up for yourself, the company says that pre-orders will kick off at the end of CES. The company anticipates that the glasses will start shipping before March 2025. As for pricing, that remains to be seen. Halliday says that it should be between the $399 and $499 price range.