Robert Downey Jr. joins SPECS in honorary customer role

Robert Downey Jr. has joined SPECS as honorary chief customer experience officer, working on original content, augmented reality experiences and hardware collaborations.

The actor’s first project is a series of episodes demonstrating the company’s AR glasses. The partnership will also feature in US sports broadcasts, including an NBA Tip-Off game and the World Series.

SPECS glasses use hand movements and voice commands, letting wearers interact with digital content through see-through lenses.

Downey Jr.’s role

Downey Jr. will work with the SPECS team to develop Lens experiences, explore new capabilities and collaborate on hardware and in-person experiences.

“Trying is believing. Having tested practically every wearable tech that’s come to market in the last 20 years, and been largely unimpressed, I was absolutely sold on SPECS within 40 seconds,” said Downey Jr.

“The applications are endless. Families can share experiences instead of hunching over devices, skills can be honed, big business can streamline development. In short, it delivers on the promise of AR glasses made by a certain techno-optimist superhero I portrayed. Life imitates art-imitates life! I’ve never experienced the confident, warm and creatively inviting atmosphere that Evan has cultivated at SPECS anywhere else in the tech sector. " Wait ’til you see what we create for you to enjoy.”

The company said the work would cover entertainment and education, alongside potential applications in medicine, engineering and manufacturing.

"We're incredibly excited to welcome Robert Downey Jr. to SPECS to help shape the future of augmented reality," said Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc.

"Robert has been imagining what this technology could become for nearly twenty years, and it's an honour to work with him to bring that vision to life.”

First episodes released

The first episodes show the glasses being used to customise workspaces, practise golf, watch entertainment and develop artistic skills.

They are available on the SPECS website and YouTube channel, with more episodes to follow.

The partnership will make its broadcast debut during the New York Knicks versus Philadelphia 76ers Tip-Off game. An episode will also air during Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, October 23.