Google’s Sergey Brin Reflects on Google’s ‘Biggest Flop Gadget’: “Didn’t Know...”

Google co-founder Sergey Brin openly acknowledged that the company made “a lot of mistakes” with its original product, Google Glass, which is widely regarded as the company’s biggest gadget flop. Speaking at Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O 2025, Brin reflected on the challenges that led to the product’s initial failure. He admitted that during Google Glass’s development, he did not fully understand the consumer electronics supply chain, which resulted in manufacturing and pricing difficulties that ultimately doomed the wearable device.

In an interview with Alex Kantrowitz of the Big Technology Podcast, Brin elaborated on his reflections, noting that Google Glass, first launched in 2013, was perhaps ahead of its time. He highlighted that the company underestimated how complex it would be to create affordable smart glasses. “Didn’t know anything about consumer electronic supply chains, or how difficult it would be to build smart glasses at a reasonable price point,” Brin stated. Despite these setbacks, Brin still regards the core design and concept of Google Glass as “pretty cool” and now sees it as ideal hardware for artificial intelligence applications.

Moving forward, Google is aiming to revive its presence in the smart glasses market with new technology. At Google I/O 2025, the company unveiled its Android XR platform, which supports augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR) devices. One of the standout developments is Project Aura, a prototype of Android XR-powered smart glasses created in collaboration with the company Xreal. These new smart glasses will feature Gemini integration, a large field of view, built-in cameras, and microphones. Google is also partnering with well-known eyewear brands like Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker to design more fashionable and practical options.

Android XR smart glasses will support features such as live translation, directional navigation using a mini Google Maps display, and the ability to watch immersive 360-degree videos. This marks what many see as Google’s most serious attempt yet to establish itself in the wearable computing space, especially following the shortcomings of Google Glass and previous augmented reality projects.

Additionally, Google has made a significant financial commitment to advance AI-powered smart glasses development. At the same conference, Google announced it would invest $150 million in Warby Parker, a prominent consumer eyewear company, to help develop and commercialize AI-powered smart glasses. This collaboration includes up to $75 million allocated directly for Warby Parker’s product development and commercialization expenses. Furthermore, Google plans to invest an additional $75 million in Warby Parker, contingent on the company meeting certain collaboration milestones and at Warby Parker’s discretion.

This substantial investment underscores Google’s renewed focus on wearable technology and the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance user experiences. By combining its software expertise with Warby Parker’s eyewear manufacturing capabilities, Google aims to bring innovative, stylish, and functional smart glasses to the market, overcoming past hurdles and capitalizing on growing consumer interest in mixed reality devices.

In summary, Sergey Brin’s candid admission about the missteps with Google Glass provides valuable insight into the challenges of pioneering new technology. Google’s ongoing efforts, highlighted by the Android XR platform, Project Aura, and significant investment in Warby Parker, demonstrate a strategic and determined push to succeed in the evolving field of wearable smart glasses.