AR smart glass maker Vuzix announced on Thursday that it planned to expand its focus on original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partnerships after it entered a strategic partnership with Quanta Computer.

The pivot will also supply companies with waveguides, repositioning Vuzix to support new clients creating augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions.

The Rochester, New York-based enterprise aims to brand itself as a one-stop shop for smart glass waveguide manufacturing.

High-volume clients can also benefit from Vuzix’s industrial, mechanical, and electrical engineering expertise, along with a massive network of optics firms worldwide. Overall, this can reduce production time to market and improve quality control capacities for producers.

Paul Travers, President and Chief Executive, Vuzix, said that design and cost-effective production were some of “the most critical factors” for creating successful AI-backed smart glasses across sectors.

“We believe our competitive technologies and capabilities will translate into substantial business opportunities, driving revenue and profit growth for Vuzix in the coming years,” he concluded.

The news comes after Quanta invested $20m across three tranches, valued at $10m in Vuzix common stock and two $5m for milestone-based funding and Series B preferred stock.

At the time, Franck Chuang, Vice President, Quanta Computer said,

“We plan to work closely with Vuzix to support the AR smart glasses industry and today’s investment in Vuzix represents a strong endorsement of our partnership.”

News of the investment comes on the heels of the Meta Connect 2024 event, where Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO, Meta, shared his company’s updated catalogue of Quest mixed reality headsets, AI-driven smart glasses and solutions, and its Orion holographic smart glass demo.

The annual event is often seen as one of the benchmarks for the extended reality (XR) industry, setting the precedent for wearable adoption receptivity and rates from investors, end users, and brand loyalists.

Snap also revealed its Snap Spectacles and Snap OS in mid-September amid a race to innovate AR wearable solutions across the tech sector. Companies like Phantom, Qualcomm, XREAL, VITURE, and others have also joined the melee of AR smart glasses competition as well.

Back in mid-August, Vuzix launched its M400 Xtreme industrial AR smart glasses for users operating in challenging environments. The head-mounted displays leverage AI and can function in adverse heat and cold, and is IP67-resistant to humidity and moisture.