Meta’s Fifth Avenue AI Glasses: Fashionably Empty and Confused

KEY POINTS

•Meta launched a pop-up AI glasses store on New York’s 5th Avenue in 2025 near luxury boutiques like Harry Winston.
•The store showcased Meta Ray-Ban and Oakley AI glasses alongside innovative ping pong paddle mirrors for demos and selfies.
•Despite Meta’s claims of booming foot traffic, a weekday morning saw twice as many staff members as customers.
•Visitors experienced two demo tiers, including second-generation Ray-Bans and a high-tech Display model controlled by finger gestures.

In an audacious attempt to blend Wall Street swagger with Silicon Valley glitter, Meta planted its AI spectacle pop-up right next to Harry Winston jewelry and Louis Vuitton on NYC's ritzy 5th Avenue by 2025—because nothing screams innovation like pricey sunglasses that require a joystick finger dance. At the quiet hour of 11:30 a.m. on a random weekday, staff outnumbered customers two to one, eagerly demonstrating Ray-Ban and Oakley AI glasses with ping-pong paddle mirrors—yes, mirrors strapped to mini paddles—for better selfie angles. As the Meta rep boasted 'foot traffic exceeded expectations,' the actual foot traffic resembled a desert mirage. Bonus: a skate-themed wall to remind us all Meta’s corporate offices are secretly trying to capture rebellious teenage angst without the actual edge.