In early 2025, AI glasses are already making waves as the next big thing in wearable tech. Leading the charge? Halliday, the smart eyewear brand that’s shaking things up. Their AI glasses project raised a jaw-dropping $1.37 million in just three days on Kickstarter, and now it’s sitting at a massive $3.3 million—setting a new record for AI glasses crowdfunding. With shipments expected in April 2025 and prices ranging from $399 to $489, Halliday’s buzz is getting impossible to ignore.
So, how did Halliday come out of nowhere with such a big splash? It’s no surprise, really. The brand is backed by the same powerhouse team behind moody, the wildly successful colored contact lens company in China valued at over 1 billion RMB. Led by CEO Ci Ran, moody’s dominance in the lens world for the past five years shows that Halliday’s AI glasses might just be the next big thing in smart eyewear.
The Natural Next Step
Carter, Halliday’s co-founder and COO, says it’s a logical move for the company in an interview. After all, moody’s parent company, Weimu Technology, has been investing in optics for years, including prescription lenses, fashion eyewear, and even sports glasses through its Bubble brand. Now, AI glasses are the next frontier, and Halliday’s ready to lead the charge.
The brand name “Halliday” was inspired by a character from Ready Player One, symbolizing innovation and the desire to balance technology with real-world interaction. This reflects the company’s mission to enhance life through simple, efficient tech solutions.
The Evolution of Eyewear
Halliday’s journey into AI glasses started in 2021 when Weimu began dabbling in AR glasses and invested in Gyges Labs. By teaming up with Gyges to co-develop AI-powered eyewear, they’ve created something groundbreaking: instead of the usual waveguide displays, Halliday’s glasses use a near-eye display that projects images straight onto the retina, giving users a mind-blowing experience where digital content seems to float just out of view. Halliday is all about enhancing your day-to-day life with features like hands-free notifications and real-time translation. You can check messages or answer calls with just a glance and a tap on a smart ring. It’s all about making life more efficient—without the hassle of pulling out your phone.
Beyond the Basics: Display Tech as the Core
Where Halliday stands out from the pack is in its focus on display technology. While other brands focus on cameras and audio, Halliday’s all about the display. “We believe the display is the heart of AI glasses—images and text communicate more effectively than voice alone,” Carter explains.
Halliday’s approach is on developing both functional and stylish AI glasses that serve as information hubs, unlike other smart glasses which rely more on audio for interaction. Halliday’s glasses will display notifications and information discreetly on the lens, aiming for a seamless and non-intrusive user experience.
Fashion Meets Function
AI glasses are seen as more personalized and stylish compared to smartphones, which have a more consolidated market. Halliday plans to offer various frame styles and colors to cater to individual preferences, emphasizing the importance of eye comfort and appearance in eyewear design.
One of the lessons Halliday has learned from moody’s success is the importance of balancing tech with style. Many AI glasses out there focus too much on the gadgetry and forget that wearability matters. Carter stresses, “We made sure the glasses are comfortable, stylish, and easy to wear—before we even considered the smart features. If they don’t feel right, no one’s going to wear them.”
Customizable for Everyone
Carter knows that eyewear is deeply personal. With so many different face shapes and style preferences, one-size-fits-all won’t cut it. So, while Halliday only has one frame design for now, expect more colors and styles in the future to cater to every fashion vibe.
Will AI Glasses Go Mainstream?
Despite the hype, adoption has been slow for AI glasses—mainly due to past production issues and quality concerns. But Carter isn’t worried. He predicts smart glasses will go mainstream within the next 5-10 years, potentially replacing regular eyewear altogether.
“Just like we moved from feature phones to smartphones, we’ll make the leap from regular glasses to smart glasses. It’s inevitable,” The COO says.
What’s Next?
Right now, Halliday has one frame design, but expect more on the way. As they expand, customization will be key—giving users the chance to find their perfect style. While that may raise production costs, Carter’s confident that this personal touch will keep Halliday ahead of the curve in the long run.
With the expertise of the moody team behind them, Halliday is set to make a serious splash in the AI glasses space. Whether or not they’ll achieve the same level of success they had with colored contacts remains to be seen—but one thing’s for sure: Halliday’s betting big on the future of AI-powered eyewear. And their vision? It’s crystal clear.
