Snap Previews In Lens Commerce For Its Upcoming AR Glasses Snap is moving forward with the development of its first consumer AR glasses, called Specs, slated for release next year. At its recent Lens Fest event for AR developers, the company offered a preview of new apps and, most notably, a new commerce feature that will be available on the new hardware. Snaps Chief Technology Officer, Bobby Murphy, announced new software tools named Commerce Kit. This will allow a select group of developers to accept payments directly within their AR lenses. These transactions could be for digital goods or to unlock premium features in an experience. This marks a significant step in Snap’s monetization strategy for its AR platform. Murphy stated this is the start of developer monetization for lenses on Specs and that the company plans to find more ways for creators to build sustainable businesses. While Snap already runs a Lens Creator rewards program, this new direct, in-lens commerce opens a fresh revenue stream. The success of this as a business model for Snap remains to be seen. The company has previously released two versions of AR glasses, but those were aimed squarely at developers. The upcoming Specs are intended to be the first version for the general consumer market. CEO Evan Spiegel has promised the new design will be lightweight, a contrast to the current bulky developer frames, though other design details are still under wraps. When Specs launch, they will arrive with a solid suite of AR applications. Snap has already released a standalone experience for watching its Spotlight videos and a more powerful web browser for the glasses. A new real-time translation lens that can translate and transcribe audio was also highlighted. Furthermore, Snap revealed that more AR integrations are in development. Tripadvisor is creating a lens that will overlay trusted insights about restaurants and shops directly into the users field of view. The design platform Figma is also working on a lens, though specific details were not shared. These announcements underscore the breadth of Snaps ambition for its AR glasses. For years, the company has cultivated a large ecosystem of AR creators. It is now preparing to bring that entire ecosystem to its new glasses platform. Murphy expressed a vision where Specs could power experiences from classrooms to design studios, creating new opportunities and work for developers in various categories. The stage is set for Snaps big consumer push into augmented reality, with commerce positioned as a key pillar of the experience from the very beginning.
