Meta AI ‘Look & Describe’ Feature Officially Available in the UK

Big news for Meta Ray-Ban users and especially the visually impaired community — as of 10 April 2025, the ‘Look’ feature from Meta AI is finally available in the United Kingdom! This has been a long-awaited update for users of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, and now it’s here, no VPN tricks required.

Why Wasn’t It Available in the UK Before?

Although the UK got access to Meta AI back in October 2024, the powerful visual recognition feature — the one that lets the AI describe what the camera sees — was blocked. Ask it to describe something, and it would reply: “This is not supported in your region.” Understandably frustrating, especially for those who bought the glasses expecting the full experience.

Many users, including a few in our community, bypassed this using a VPN to make the glasses think they were in the US. This workaround was short-lived though, as Meta eventually cracked down on VPN usage. Cue a lot of complaints, confusion, and disappointment. Why the delay? Most likely due to UK privacy laws — don’t forget, the glasses have a built-in camera, so data regulations are strict. But now, the green light has been given, and Meta has started rolling out the Look feature in the UK. Just keep an eye on your Meta View app for updates — it’s likely happening in phases.

What is Meta Ray-Ban?

Smart glasses that has interchangeable lenses, including sunglass tints and proscriptions; both headphones, and a camera, that cost £300+ with built in AI.

What Is Meta AI?

Meta AI is Meta’s answer to Google Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT — except it lives on your face. Built into the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, it lets you interact with AI hands-free, anywhere, anytime.

Owned by the folks behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta AI can handle all the usual AI stuff: answering questions, giving weather updates, telling you the time, or even writing a poem about sausages…

But what sets it apart is the camera-powered ‘Look’ feature, which uses computer vision to describe what’s in front of you. This turns everyday scenes into accessible moments — and for some users, it’s been genuinely life-changing.

Meta Ray-Bans in the Blind Community

While many saw the ‘Look’ feature as a bit of a gimmick, it’s been a game-changer for blind and partially sighted users. From reading letters, spotting landmarks while travelling, to identifying shops and viewing menus at a restaurant — this tool has opened up new levels of independence.

Take our very own Sam, who asked Meta AI to read a train station board. It replied:

“Next train to Heathrow Airport in 5 minutes, following a Paddington train in 2 minutes.”

Another time, he asked what shop he was standing in front of — probably scoping out his next Starbucks fix. Little things like this can be incredibly empowering, and we’re so glad the UK can now fully experience this.

Aside from the AI descriptions, there are two main features of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses that we think are incredibly useful for blind and visually impaired users.

🎧 Open-Ear Audio

Hidden in the arms of the frames are tiny speakers that play audio — from the voice assistant, or even via Bluetooth from your smartphone. This means you can listen to music, or more importantly, get turn-by-turn navigation from apps like Soundscape or Google Maps — all without blocking your ears. This isn’t bone conduction (which is another cool bit of tech), but the result is similar — your ears stay open so you can still hear people around you, traffic, or that cyclist who definitely didn’t ring their bell. In short, safe, smart, and sound.

👁️ POV Visual Assistant

We’ve all been there — you just need a quick pair of eyes. Maybe you’d usually FaceTime a friend to read something or check if that’s your bus coming. Now, with Meta Ray-Bans, you can do that hands-free.

No more awkwardly waving your phone around hoping it’s pointing the right way. The glasses use their point-of-view camera, meaning where you look is what they see. Bonus for those in the UK: your phone can stay safely in your pocket — especially useful in cities where phone snatching is sadly common. To do this, just ask Meta AI to make a WhatsApp or Messenger video call, and once your contact answers, double-press the capture button. Boom — they can now see through your eyes (well, your glasses).

🎥 Real-Life Demo: Navigating with Meta Sighted Assistant

And if you don’t have someone to call — no worries! Meta also integrates with Be My Eyes, a brilliant app with over a million sighted volunteers ready to help. Just say, “Meta, Be My Eyes,” and you’ll be instantly connected to a friendly human helper.

🎁 Bonus Blind Tip for the Meta Ray-Bans

That 12MP front-facing camera? Brilliant for capturing 3-minute videos of Guide Dog refusals — because nothing says “service dog discrimination” like video evidence from your face! But in all seriousness, taking photos as a blind person can be a challenge. Lining up shots with a phone? With Meta Ray-Bans, it’s as simple as looking in the right direction and snapping away. Whether it’s capturing a memory, sending a quick pic to a friend, or even documenting something important 🦮, these smart glasses make photography a lot more accessible!

Final Thoughts

Meta AI Look & Describe is now officially available in the UK, and we couldn’t be more excited. Whether you’re using it for accessibility, convenience, or just to show off to your mates, it’s worth giving it a try.

Check your MetaView app for updates and keep your glasses charged — the future is finally here.

Were you one of the many affected by the delay?

What did you miss the most about the Look feature, or what will you use it for now that it’s live in the UK? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!