HTC adopts open AI strategy for new smartglasses

HTC has launched its VIVE Eagle AI smartglasses in Hong Kong and plans to expand to Japan and Southeast Asia in Q1 2026, with Europe and the US to follow later in the year.

The Taiwan-based company’s new smartglasses allow users to choose between AI models such as Google’s Gemini and OpenAI, rather than relying on a single platform.

HTC said this open approach distinguishes its product from competitors, including Meta’s smartglasses, which are supported only by Meta AI, and Chinese brands that use domestic AI models.

The VIVE Eagle is priced at HK$3,988 (US$512).

HTC cited regional design needs as part of its Asia-first strategy, noting that current smartglasses often have a “Western fit” that may not suit Asian users.

The company also said that user data is not used to train its AI models, and emphasized privacy and data security in its offering.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

HTC’s open AI pitch looks like marketing in a market Meta leads

HTC pitches choice between Google Gemini and ChatGPT (OpenAI’s consumer chatbot), but VIVE Eagle has no on‑glasses display, so replies play as audio, not visuals 1 2.
Meta held 73% of H1 2025 smartglasses sales with $299 Ray‑Ban Meta, while HTC asks about $512 in Hong Kong with similar Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 (a processor tailored for smartglasses), 32GB storage and a 12MP camera 2 3.
Open AI branding feels thin because Google Gemini and OpenAI GPT run as anonymized third‑party cloud services for complex queries 1 4. VIVE AI runs on device for simple offline commands, and HTC lacks a proprietary foundation model (a large general‑purpose AI system trained on broad data) 1 4.
Asia‑first rollout starts in Hong Kong, with Japan and Southeast Asia planned for Q1 2026 4. No sales data has been shared, partners are Taiwan Mobile with 2020EYEhaus, and traction against Meta is unclear 4.

Developers hit an SDK info gap on HTC’s open platform

AI app makers with Software as a Service (SaaS) firms see 110% H1 2025 shipment growth, yet HTC’s docs center on Virtual Reality/Extended Reality (VR/XR) Software Development Kits (SDKs) for Focus with XR Elite headsets (HTC’s VR devices), not VIVE Eagle 5 6.
A forum thread asks for VIVE Eagle SDK access, but HTC’s portals still lack SDK or Application Programming Interface (API) docs for Eagle 7 5 6.
VIVE Eagle lacks API docs plus app distribution and Operating System (OS) specs, which blocks third‑party work on AI, translation or productivity.