Snap's AR Glasses Hit Turbulence as Key Executive Exits

When Strategy Clashes Meet Reality

Six months before launch, and your key executive walks out the door. That's exactly what happened at Snap, where Scott Myers, the SVP overseeing the company's highly anticipated Specs AR glasses, reportedly left after a strategic "blow-up" with CEO Evan Spiegel.

The timing couldn't be more awkward. Snap has been teasing the commercial release of Specs "later this year," positioning the AR glasses as a strategic priority. Yet here they are, losing the person who called the development process an "entirely new paradigm" just when they need steady leadership most.

The January Spin-Off, February Exit Pattern

Here's where it gets interesting. In January, Snap spun off the Specs team into its own subsidiary, Specs Inc., claiming it would allow for "greater operational focus and alignment." One month later, the person leading that focus is gone.

Sources reported the departure stemmed from strategic disagreements, though neither party is revealing specifics. When pressed, Snap disputed the "blow-up" characterization but wouldn't elaborate on Myers' exit. The company's statement was diplomatically vague: Myers "decided to step down" and they "wished him the best."

Myers brought serious hardware chops to the role—SpaceX, Apple, and Nokia experience since joining Snap in 2020. His vision was clear: no wires hanging from people's heads, seamless integration, mass appeal.

The AR Market's Uncomfortable Truth

This executive shuffle reveals a deeper tension plaguing the entire AR wearables industry. Apple's Vision Pro launched at $3,500 to lukewarm reception. Meta's Quest headsets remain niche. Google Glass became a cautionary tale.

The fundamental question: Are we building AR glasses because the technology is ready, or because we think consumers want them?

Snap's approach has been more consumer-friendly than Apple's premium play, but even they face the chicken-and-egg problem. Without compelling use cases, AR glasses remain expensive gadgets looking for a purpose. Without affordable hardware, developers can't create those compelling use cases.

Beyond the Hardware: Snap's Bigger Bet

For Snap, Specs represents more than just another product line—it's an existential pivot. With Snapchat's user growth slowing and competition from TikTok intensifying, AR glasses could be their ticket to hardware relevance.

But hardware is unforgiving. Unlike software updates, you can't patch physical products post-launch. Every design decision, from battery life to form factor, gets locked in. That's probably why strategic disagreements feel so high-stakes.

The company maintains they're "focused on disciplined execution," but losing your Specs leader months before launch raises questions about just how disciplined that execution really is.

The Broader AR Reality Check

Snap's internal drama mirrors the industry's broader struggles. Everyone's racing to be first, but first to what exactly? The AR market is still searching for its iPhone moment—that perfect combination of technology, design, and consumer need.

Maybe the real innovation won't come from the first company to ship AR glasses, but from the first to solve the fundamental question of why people should wear them.