In our first issue, we explored why frontline work still depends on memory and how that leads to missed steps, inconsistent execution, and preventable mistakes.
The next topic we're covering is how AI can reduce that dependence. Essentially, it has to show up in an accessible way where work actually happens: in the moment of execution.
This month, we're looking at why smart glasses are emerging as the interface for Frontline Intelligence, and why it's the intelligence behind them that will ultimately transform frontline work.
AI is starting to move beyond screens, dashboards, and back-office workflows. For frontline teams, this shift requires an interface designed for physical work.
Workers are moving, using their hands, following procedures, inspecting equipment, and making decisions in real time. To support this physical work, AI needs a way to see the task, understand the environment, and respond during execution.
Smart glasses are beginning to provide that access.
Existing remote assist solutions offer a useful bridge for understanding the opportunity. Today, smart glasses can allow a human expert to see what a worker sees and guide them through an issue. That model is valuable, but it depends on an expert being available at the right moment.
AI creates the opportunity to make that kind of support more accessible, scalable, and consistent.
Smart glasses provide a hands-free view into the physical environment. The true value sits behind the glasses, providing an intelligence layer that interprets what is happening, connects it to the expected workflow, identifies potential execution issues, and delivers guidance while the worker can still act.
Derek Belch, co-founder & CEO of Strivr, describes this evolution as "making smart glasses smart."
The goal is to give AI the context it needs to understand frontline work, detect errors, and guide correction in real time.
SIGNAL FROM THE FLOOR
Smart glasses are moving from a wearable device to an emerging AI interface.
IDC reported that display-less smart glasses grew 167% year-over-year in Q1 2026, reaching approximately 2.25 million units in a single quarter. Display eyewear across AR, VR, MR, and XR grew 86% year-over-year in the same period.
This growth signals rising momentum around a form factor that is becoming more familiar and practical.
At the same time, AI is becoming more capable of interpreting images, video, language, and real-world context.
Together, these shifts create a new question for operations leaders: Where could real-time visual understanding improve frontline execution?
The hardware gives AI the "eyes and ears" to the work environment. The larger enterprise value comes from intelligence that understands the task, the workflow, and what correct execution looks like.
SIGNAL FROM THE FLOOR
Smart glasses are moving from a wearable device to an emerging AI interface.
IDC reported that display-less smart glasses grew 167% year-over-year in Q1 2026, reaching approximately 2.25 million units in a single quarter. Display eyewear across AR, VR, MR, and XR grew 86% year-over-year in the same period.
This growth signals rising momentum around a form factor that is becoming more familiar and practical.
At the same time, AI is becoming more capable of interpreting images, video, language, and real-world context.
Together, these shifts create a new question for operations leaders: Where could real-time visual understanding improve frontline execution?
The hardware gives AI the "eyes and ears" to the work environment. The larger enterprise value comes from intelligence that understands the task, the workflow, and what correct execution looks like.
In the Flow of Work
So where should you start when considering a smart glasses-based solution for your frontline workforce?
Operations leaders are finding that a strong starting point is identifying one high-value workflow where the process is well-defined, the failure points are understood, and execution can be observed in the real world.
Look for workflows where:
workers need to keep their hands available
the task depends on a specific sequence of steps
visual confirmation is required to verify the work
small errors create rework, delays, safety risk, or quality issues
supervisors or experts are frequently pulled in to verify execution
quality checks happen after an issue has already moved downstream
execution varies across shifts, locations, or teams
workers rely heavily on memory, tribal knowledge, or repeated reminders
These workflows give teams a practical place to begin.
The process already defines what should happen. Real-world execution reveals where it breaks down. This creates the foundation for teaching AI what to observe, what to compare, and when to intervene.
This AI-powered solution is what we call Frontline Intelligence, the “smart” behind smart glasses, that can connect SOPs, work instructions, quality standards, safety requirements, and expert knowledge to the moment of execution — hands-free, heads-up, and in context.
In the Flow of Work
So where should you start when considering a smart glasses-based solution for your frontline workforce?
Operations leaders are finding that a strong starting point is identifying one high-value workflow where the process is well-defined, the failure points are understood, and execution can be observed in the real world.
Look for workflows where:
workers need to keep their hands available
the task depends on a specific sequence of steps
visual confirmation is required to verify the work
small errors create rework, delays, safety risk, or quality issues
supervisors or experts are frequently pulled in to verify execution
quality checks happen after an issue has already moved downstream
execution varies across shifts, locations, or teams
workers rely heavily on memory, tribal knowledge, or repeated reminders
These workflows give teams a practical place to begin.
The process already defines what should happen. Real-world execution reveals where it breaks down. This creates the foundation for teaching AI what to observe, what to compare, and when to intervene.
This AI-powered solution is what we call Frontline Intelligence, the “smart” behind smart glasses, that can connect SOPs, work instructions, quality standards, safety requirements, and expert knowledge to the moment of execution — hands-free, heads-up, and in context.
Worth Reading
Smart glasses are getting more attention, but their enterprise value depends on more than the device itself.
In our latest blog, we break down why smart glasses matter for Frontline Intelligence, how visual language models help make them useful for real work, and why the strongest use cases start with frontline execution problems.
Smart glasses provide a practical way to bring AI into frontline environments.
The organizations that will benefit most won't simply deploy smart glasses—they'll deploy the intelligence that understands work, guides execution, and helps workers get it right in the moment.
That's the promise of Frontline Intelligence: bringing AI into the flow of work, where it can create measurable operational value.
Wondering where Frontline Intelligence could create the biggest impact in your operation?
Reply with "FIT," and we'll send a few questions to help identify workflows where real-time visibility, context, and correction could improve frontline execution.
