Will smart glasses be the big thing in 2026? Google is betting on it. The company announced it will be launching a new line of AI-powered eyewear next year, built in partnership with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. The devices will run on Google’s Gemini assistant and offer features like real-time translations, spoken responses, and on-lens displays for directions and other information.
It’s a bold reboot after the company’s Google Glass flopped in 2013. The technology wasn’t ready, the price was high, and the public backlash was brutal. Early adopters earned the nickname “Glassholes.“
This time, Google is aiming much higher. With Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses gaining traction, the battle to own wearable AI is officially on.
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Franchises Keep Opening Up in ‘Non-Traditional’ Spaces
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
Franchises aren’t waiting for customers to come to them anymore — they’re setting up shop wherever the crowds already are. The latest example: Little Caesars will be opening a restaurant inside Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas, where concession stands and grab-and-go carts will serve hot slices throughout the basketball and volleyball seasons.
The move expands Little Caesars’ push into non-traditional venues through CMG Companies, a multi-unit franchisee focused on high-traffic locations beyond standard storefronts. CMG leaders say university partnerships help them reach fans without the overhead of a full restaurant.
Little Caesars is not alone. Brands from Popeyes to Freddy’s Frozen Custard are opening in airports, stadiums, and campuses as franchising shifts toward high-traffic spaces with built-in demand.
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