Meta has announced a new set of India-focused updates for its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, introducing support for UPI Lite payments, Hindi language interaction, and an AI voice modeled after actor Deepika Padukone. The move marks Meta’s latest step in tailoring its global wearable technology for Indian users, blending artificial intelligence, local language support, and digital payments into one ecosystem.
The updated features, unveiled just ahead of the festive season, are part of Meta’s broader effort to deepen its engagement with India’s rapidly growing tech-savvy population. The new AI capabilities and payment integrations aim to enhance the glasses’ role as an everyday personal assistant, enabling users to make hands-free transactions, capture content, and interact with AI in both English and Hindi.
According to Meta, the UPI Lite payment integration allows users to complete digital transactions through simple voice commands. Powered by India’s Unified Payments Interface system, the feature enables seamless and secure small-value payments without requiring a smartphone or wallet. By saying, “Hey Meta, pay ₹100 using UPI,” users can now transfer money instantly using their voice.
Meta said it worked closely with Indian payment partners and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to integrate the system. The addition of UPI Lite is a strategic move that positions Meta’s wearables within India’s booming fintech ecosystem, where over 400 million users rely on UPI for daily payments.
In addition to payments, the AI assistant on Ray-Ban Meta glasses now supports Hindi language prompts and responses, expanding accessibility for millions of Indian users. The assistant can respond to Hindi voice commands for queries, navigation, and communication tasks. For instance, users can ask, “Meta, mujhe aaj ka mausam batao” (Meta, tell me today’s weather), and the glasses will provide real-time weather updates in Hindi.
The feature is designed to support India’s diverse linguistic landscape, enabling smoother interaction with AI-powered devices beyond English-speaking users. Meta said the Hindi interface will continue to improve with user engagement as its natural language models adapt to regional speech variations and accents.
A highlight of this rollout is the introduction of Deepika Padukone’s AI voice, developed in collaboration with the actor and integrated as an optional voice for Meta’s assistant. Users can activate her voice for interactions, adding a familiar and localized personality to their AI experience. Meta said that Padukone’s voice model was trained using advanced generative AI techniques to ensure natural tone, warmth, and emotional modulation.
The company’s decision to include a celebrity voice aligns with a growing trend among tech companies using familiar personalities to make AI systems more relatable. By selecting one of India’s most recognizable voices, Meta aims to enhance user engagement and trust, particularly among new adopters of AI-driven wearables.
Meta’s Managing Director for India, Sandhya Devanathan, said the updates reflect Meta’s commitment to designing technology that resonates with local audiences. “India is a crucial innovation hub for Meta. With the new AI voice, Hindi support, and UPI integration, we’re empowering users to experience the future of wearable AI in a uniquely Indian way,” she said.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, co-developed with EssilorLuxottica, were launched globally in 2023 as part of Meta’s push into augmented reality and AI-enabled wearables. The device features an inbuilt camera, open-ear speakers, touch-sensitive temples, and voice control powered by Meta AI. It allows users to capture photos and videos, listen to music, make calls, and get real-time assistance—all through voice commands.
With the new updates, Meta aims to transform the glasses from a niche gadget into a mainstream lifestyle accessory. The integration of UPI Lite payments and multilingual support makes the device more practical for Indian consumers, aligning with the country’s growing adoption of AI wearables and digital assistants.
Industry experts see these enhancements as part of Meta’s broader strategy to strengthen its foothold in India, its largest market by user base across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. By localizing advanced technologies, Meta is positioning itself to compete with other tech giants exploring AI-driven consumer devices. Google, Samsung, and Apple have also been developing region-specific AI integrations to appeal to the Indian market.
Beyond India, the UPI-enabled voice payment model could serve as a prototype for Meta’s expansion into other emerging markets with strong digital payment ecosystems. Analysts suggest that Meta’s partnership-driven approach could help the company bridge fintech and AI innovation globally, using India as a testing ground.
The inclusion of festive features further enhances the experience for Indian users. The glasses can now generate AI-based personalized greeting images and augmented-reality effects themed around Diwali and other local festivals. Using voice commands, users can ask Meta AI to create “Diwali greetings” or “festival selfies,” which can be instantly shared across Meta’s social platforms.
Meta has also optimized battery performance and camera clarity for low-light conditions to cater to India’s diverse environments. The glasses’ onboard AI now offers improved photo framing and video captioning using contextual understanding.
Early user feedback from pilot testers suggests that the updates have been well received, especially the Hindi integration and celebrity voice feature. The combination of utility and personalization has made the glasses more appealing to users seeking both function and familiarity in wearable tech.
The India-specific rollout comes as Meta continues to scale its AI infrastructure and language models, which now support multiple Indic languages. The company is also investing in regional data centers to ensure faster processing and compliance with local data protection norms.
Meta’s latest initiative demonstrates how global technology firms are adapting to India’s digital-first consumer base by fusing innovation with cultural and linguistic relevance. With localized AI voices, digital payments, and regional language support, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are being positioned as a smart lifestyle device that blends technology with everyday convenience.