Exclusive: New Meta Lab coming to Chicago
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The future location of Chicago's Meta Lab store. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/Axios
Meta is opening a Meta Lab store in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.
Driving the news: The company confirmed to Axios on Wednesday that it's opening its first Midwest location at 932 N. Rush St., the former home of Glossier.
- B Talent first reported Meta could be moving into the vacant storefront.
The big picture: Meta Lab retail shops sell AI glasses, including the company's collaborations with Ray-Ban and Oakley, as well as virtual reality headsets.
- The company recently launched a pair of glasses with an AI voice provided by celebrity Kylie Jenner.
How it works: Meta's AI glasses essentially put your phone on your eyes. They're equipped with a camera to snap photos and record video, open-ear speakers and microphones to listen to music and talk on the phone, and internet capabilities.
- Prescription lenses also fit into the AI frames.
The latest: The smart glasses are among Meta's most popular consumer products, and while the devices have sold well, the company is also facing growing controversy over privacy.
- Meta has adapted some features in response to concerns, like the white LED indicator light, which lets bystanders know when someone is recording. The company recently updated the software on the glasses so recording is disabled if the light is tampered with.
- Meta did not immediately respond to questions about the latest complaint.
State of play: Meta has eight Meta Lab locations, including stores in New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The company announced in June it will set up 50 experiential Meta Labs at U.S. and Canadian Best Buy stores.
What they're saying: "Chicago's vibrant culture and creative energy make it the perfect city for the Midwest's first Meta Lab … We design Meta Labs to let people experience our AI glasses and VR products firsthand in a space rooted in local community, creativity, and self-expression," Meta VP and creative director Matt Jacobson said in a statement to Axios.
What's next: Meta expects to open the Chicago lab "ahead of the holiday shopping season," Jacobson said.
Axios' Ina Fried contributed reporting on this story.