Tilly Dowler’s push toward the London Marathon began with a level of training she said she once thought was out of reach, and it has now reached a point where she expects to run with the help of AI-enabled smart glasses. Running past Buckingham Palace during training, Dowler said she is using Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses to help her navigate and track her progress alongside her boyfriend, who will serve as her guide.
Dowler has Stargardt disease and said she has about 10% useful vision. She told AP that the glasses are “AI assisted,” and that while running she can ask for live cues, including “what landmarks are around me and how far I have run.” She said the glasses also allow her to combine audio feedback with listening to music without losing the ability to hear her guide runner.
The approach fits into a broader trend that has drawn both interest and scrutiny as consumer smart glasses become more common. AP reported that visually impaired runners are using AI-enabled devices that incorporate cameras, microphones and open-ear speakers, and that these glasses can be controlled by voice or other simple inputs to interpret surroundings and provide audio feedback.
Chris Lewis, a technology analyst who is visually impaired and has used smart glasses while skiing, said the system provides “an additional layer of awareness” by taking images, analyzing them, and giving information about what is in front of the user and what might be moving or changing. Lewis said this can help users receive information in real time without losing attention to their surroundings, a feature he described as important for activities such as running.
Other runners describe similar practical benefits, including reduced need to handle phones during training and daily life. Sha Khan, who said he lost around 90% of his vision in 2021 due to retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease, said the glasses are “like literally a part of me now,” adding that he “wouldn’t” step out without them. Khan said the hands-free nature helps him stay focused when working with his guide dog, Moby, including using voice commands during training with guide runners; he said that if his guide runner identifies a landmark such as Big Ben, he can respond by asking the glasses to take a picture.
At the same time, Guide Dogs UK said the role of smart glasses should be supportive rather than substitutive. The charity said these devices can “support and enhance somebody’s independence but” should not be relied on to replace core independent skills, with Tommy Dean, a technology specialist at the charity, pointing to the importance of guide dogs, mobility training and human support, particularly in complex environments.
Analysts said reliability remains a key technical barrier, especially when connectivity and crowding could affect performance. Ben Hatton, an analyst at CCS Insight who studies emerging consumer technologies, told AP that if people are going to use the technology to walk or cross busy roads, it has to be “perfectly reliable every single time,” and said factors including accuracy, connectivity and cost will shape adoption.
AP also reported privacy worries around smart glasses, including concerns about being filmed without knowledge and questions about whether video could be sent to human reviewers for AI training. Despite those concerns, experts said advances in artificial intelligence are expanding the role of mainstream devices in accessibility, and Lewis said that consumer technology enhancing the experience of people with sight problems supports the potential for increasing independence.
The London Marathon is scheduled for Sunday and organizers said more than 59,000 runners are expected to participate. The race follows a 26.2-mile route through central London that starts in Greenwich and finishes near Buckingham Palace.