Halliday unveils AI smart glasses with lens-free AR viewing

Halliday has come up with eyewear we didn’t know we needed: smart glasses that project images directly onto your eye.

Unveiled at CES 2025‘s CES Unveiled event, Halliday showed its AI smart glasses that beams images directly to your field of vision — beaming them to your eye instead of a lens — without needing a lens to do that.

Blending fashion with functionality, it is the first AI glasses to feature a unique proactive AI agent and the
DigiWindow technology, a completely unnoticeable, first-of-its-kind near-eye display that beams information directly within a user’s field of vision without a lens. The glasses still have lenses that can carry your prescription, but this is different in that there is nothing projected onto the lens itself.

Inspired by the visionary character James Halliday from Steven Spielberg’s (and Ernest Cline’s) Ready Player One, these iconic frames are as versatile as they are stylish, accommodating any prescription lens—or none at all. Available in matte black or tortoiseshell, they exude timeless sophistication. (Halliday is not affiliated with either Spielberg or Cline).

This discreetly delivers information and AI-enhanced insights directly to the user’s eyes, setting a new standard for what wearable technology can achieve. The glasses use a minimal optical module projection technology called DigiWindow to project images on the glass in front of your eyes. The eyewear can also serve as prescription glasses.

Invisible, undetectable superpowers

It’s invisible to anyone you are conversing with (except at night when you may see a green light), but there is no camera on the device so it doesn’t have the same privacy issue that other smart glasses recording devices have.

The device is equipped with a microphone integrated into the eyewear, enabling the user to engage with the proactive AI agent. Like voice assistance such as Siri or Alexa, the user is required to manually launch the Halliday AI application for it to commence listening to conversations but the audio is not permanently recorded.

Halliday may look like an ordinary pair of nostalgic, retro glasses, but appearances can be deceiving. Developed by Ph.D. engineers from Stanford with deep expertise in advanced optics, Halliday’s DigiWindow is the world’s smallest and lightest near-eye display module, making invisible displays a reality.

Installed on the upper-right part of the frame, the DigiWindow seamlessly projects information within the user’s natural field of vision, regardless of whether they have perfect eyesight or require vision correction. Perceived as a 3.5-inch screen in the upper-right corner of the user’s view, DigiWindow delivers essential information without obstructing the user’s main field of view or requiring a lens.

Unlike traditional smart glasses that use waveguide lenses—which often suffer from issues like rainbow patterns and front light leakage—Halliday adopts a unique technological approach that offers superior display quality without encountering the typical issues. Additionally, Halliday glasses work in outdoor visibility; with its exceptional light efficiency, the display remains clear even under the brightest sunlight, providing a stable viewing experience across all scenarios.

Invisible to onlookers, Halliday said it provides users with a hidden superpower to tackle life’s challenges. Designed for ultimate discretion, it is primarily controlled through a sleek trackpad ring, with additional interaction options available via voice commands and a built-in frame interface. This blend of style and advanced engineering empowers users to be smarter, more capable, and always one step ahead, Halliday said.

Proactive AI: Assistance before you ask

Halliday redefines what an AI agent can do—it doesn’t just respond to commands; it anticipates users’ needs and offers assistance proactively. While traditional reactive AI assistants are limited to basic tasks like setting alarms or identifying objects, Halliday’s proactive AI agent does more. It seamlessly analyzes conversations, answers direct questions, and offers additional insights—all without waiting for a prompt.

The proactive AI agent actively listens, understands, and processes the ongoing context of conversations and tasks, enabling it to identify opportunities to add value intuitively. For instance, during a meeting, it can proactively answer complex questions, summarize key discussion points, and generate summarized meeting notes afterward. Always a step ahead, it predicts the next logical move before you even ask, ensuring a smooth and highly effective experience.

In the blink of an eye, Halliday transforms everyday moments with powerful intelligence.

Connected to smartphones via Bluetooth, it offers a range of remarkable capabilities:

• Echo Mode: The proactive AI agent anticipates user needs and automatically provides suggestions and answers based on context, leading to more effective conversations and meetings.
• Audio Memo: Capture and summarize audio content from meetings or conversations quickly and accurately, allowing for efficient note-taking and recall.
• Notifications & Instant Replies: Discreetly check messages and respond with quick actions, all without anyone noticing.
• Cheat Sheet/Teleprompter: Speak effortlessly without notes—Halliday discreetly displays prompts, keeping you polished and confident.
• AI Translation: Real-time translation in up to 40 languages ensures smooth communication anywhere in the world.
• Navigation: Access real-time navigation directly on your glasses, eliminating the need to check your phone for directions.
• Music & Lyrics: Enjoy your favorite songs with synchronized lyrics displayed in real-time.
• Quick Notes: Voice-to-text instant note-taking for your everyday ideas and inspirations.
• Retro Design with Revolutionary Technology
• Halliday effortlessly combines a nostalgic, retro aesthetic with cutting-edge technology, creating a fashion-forward accessory for any occasion.

Weighing just 1.23 ounces (35 grams) —nearly half the weight of traditional smart glasses—and offering eight hours of continuous use, Halliday provides exceptional comfort for all-day wear.

Halliday said this tool combines vintage charm and retro elegance with innovation, offering users an invisible superpower to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and style.

Availability and price

Halliday will be available for purchase after its debut at the CES conference, with prices starting at an accessible $399 to $499 range. Shipping is expected to begin by the end of Q1 2025.

Founded in 2021, Shenzhen, China-based Halliday is a global wearable technology startup aimed at redefining smart eyewear. Established by industry pioneers (including Carter Hou) at Gyges Labs— known for their expertise in micro-optical and AI technologies—and Moody, the unicorn brand in fashion eyewear and contact lenses, Halliday combines cutting-edge innovation with timeless design. The company is self-funded and it has 40 employees.