Meta is giving its smart glasses a hearing boost with the rollout of Conversation Focus, an AI-powered feature that isolates and amplifies voices in crowded, noisy settings, making it easier for users to tune into specific conversations without missing a beat.
The update, version v21, began rolling out gradually in mid-December 2025 for Meta’s AI glasses lineup, including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta HSTN, and Oakley Meta Vanguard models. First previewed at Meta Connect in September 2025, Conversation Focus leverages beamforming technology, open-ear speakers, and real-time spatial audio processing to make the targeted voice sound slightly brighter and more prominent amid background clamor, like at a bustling party or event. Users activate it with a simple voice command, “Hey Meta, start conversation focus”, and can adjust amplification levels by swiping the right temple or via the Meta AI app settings. It’s initially available through the Early Access program for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN users in the US and Canada, with broader rollout expected as bugs are ironed out.
Beyond Conversation Focus, the v21 update introduces “Soundtrack Your World,” a multimodal AI integration with Spotify that lets users generate personalized playlists based on what they’re seeing, such as scanning an album cover or a scenic view—via commands like “Hey Meta, play a song to match this view.” This feature, powered by computer vision and Spotify’s recommendation engine, is live in English across 19 countries including the US, UK, Canada, and several in Europe and Latin America, with added voice command support in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish for music apps like Amazon Music and Apple Music.
For active users, the update adds faster voice shortcuts on Oakley Meta Vanguard for hands-free commands like “photo,” “video,” or “music” during workouts, and personalized run or bike routines created via voice prompts when paired with compatible Garmin devices. These enhancements build on Meta’s ongoing AI improvements, aiming to make the glasses more intuitive for everyday and fitness scenarios.
While Meta didn’t provide direct executive quotes in the announcement, the company emphasized in its blog that the updates are “the gift that keeps on giving,” highlighting their focus on seamless, AI-driven experiences.
This launch underscores Meta’s aggressive push into wearable AI, following the debut of display-equipped Ray-Ban smart glasses at Connect 2025 and amid growing competition in the AR space.
Rivals like Apple are rumored to be developing similar audio-focused features for future AirPods and Vision Pro iterations, while Google’s revived Project Astra hints at advanced conversational AI in wearables. As smart glasses evolve from novelty to necessity, Meta’s Conversation Focus could set a new standard for accessibility and social interactions, potentially influencing how we navigate noisy real-world environments in an increasingly augmented future.
