The News, Explained
Naver announced on October 12, 2026, that Naver Map navigation is expanding to AI glasses. In this announcement, AI glasses are eyewear devices that use components such as microphones, speakers and cameras to exchange information through voice controls. Naver says the feature will appear first on Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses, followed by the Google and Samsung intelligent eyewear planned for release by the end of 2026. The announcement does not give a country-by-country rollout, supported-model list, required app version or exact start date. Source
A person can hear directions to a destination without repeatedly looking at a phone screen while moving. Naver says the spoken guidance can include the direction of travel and route details such as whether stairs or an escalator are available. Android is supported first, with iOS scheduled for a phased rollout. Source
Naver Map is also adding voice calls designed for the glasses. A user can ask for an estimated arrival time or request nearby convenience stores, restaurants and cafes, combining route guidance with Naver’s place information. On the intelligent eyewear being developed by Google and Samsung, Naver plans to let users call Naver Map through Google’s Gemini assistant and begin navigation by voice. Source
The announcement mixes near-term functions with later concepts. Real-time spoken directions and voice questions are the initial experience. Directions overlaid on the user’s view through augmented reality, or AR, along with nearby-store information and available Naver Place coupons are described as future plans for glasses with displays. AR places digital information over a person’s view of the physical surroundings. Source
OYOPICK’s Take
The first problem Naver Map is trying to solve on AI glasses is not moving a small screen onto a lens. It is reducing the need to pull out a phone repeatedly while walking. Connecting arrival-time and nearby-place questions to the same voice flow could turn navigation and place discovery into one interaction. The practical benefit will depend on whether instructions arrive early enough at turns and whether guidance recovers quickly after a missed route.
Clear compatibility information will matter just as much as the interface. Features can differ by country, language and phone operating system even within one glasses family. Naver Map should offer a simple table showing supported models, required app versions and current Android and iOS availability. A quiet fallback on the phone or display would also help when speaking a destination or nearby-place query aloud is uncomfortable.
AR directions on display-equipped glasses are the next step. They will be most useful if route markers stay clear at complex intersections without blocking the wearer’s view or demanding too much attention. We hope the product rollout explains visual-safety choices, correction paths for wrong routes and privacy controls alongside the convenience features.