July 8 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms ( META ) has acquired

a nearly 3% stake in eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica, a

source told Reuters on Tuesday, amid growing consumer interest

in AI-powered wearable devices.

Sprucing up its wearable technology with

artificial-intelligence capabilities could help Meta attract new

users as it invests billions of dollars in bolstering its AI

infrastructure.

EssilorLuxottica declined to comment, while Meta did not

immediately respond when contacted by Reuters.

Meta bought a stake worth around 3 billion euros ($3.52

billion) in EssilorLuxottica at the current market price and is

considering further investments that could build its share to

around 5% over time, according to Bloomberg News, which reported

the development earlier in the day.

The social media giant teamed up with Oakley to release

AI-powered smart glasses last month, expanding its push into

wearable tech after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses,

millions of which have been sold since their launch in 2023.

The "Oakley Meta HSTN" will feature a hands-free

high-resolution camera, open-ear speakers, water resistance and

Meta AI capabilities.

EssilorLuxottica planned to boost its production capacity

for smart glasses and hopes to expand its collaboration with

Meta to other brands, Chief Executive Francesco Milleri had said

in February.

($1 = 0.8527 euros)