Snap makes the Iron Man actor the honorary face of its $2,195 Specs AR glasses

Snap has hired Robert Downey Jr. to promote its Specs AR glasses, with the title of honorary Chief Customer Experience Officer. In June, a report said Snap wanted him for the job.

Snap's product image of Specs, the AR glasses Downey Jr. will promote. Image: Snap Inc.

Snap announced the role on October 20. The title is honorary, and Snap gives no figure for what he is paid.

Downey Jr. will work on Lenses, videos and hardware for the Specs team

Snap says Downey Jr. will help customers "understand and imagine what's possible" with Specs. He will also work on new Lens experiences, original content, hardware and in-person events.

His pitch leans on the role that made him famous. "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," he said. He added that Specs deliver "on the promise of AR glasses made by a certain techno optimist superhero I portrayed", meaning Tony Stark.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said Downey Jr. "has been imagining what this technology could become for nearly twenty years."

Snap also pitches Specs to businesses, here with Hololight software. Image: Snap Inc.

A short video series and a World Series TV spot open the Specs campaign

His first project is a set of short episodes showing Specs used to plan a workspace, practise golf, watch a show and make art. They are on the Specs website and YouTube.

The campaign made its TV debut during the Knicks and 76ers game on October 20. Another episode is due to air during Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, October 23.

Specs from the front, as Snap showed them in September. Image: Snap Inc.

Specs still cost $2,195 and Snap has not given a shipping date

The glasses cost $2,195, or $2,395 with a cellular case. Pre-orders with a refundable deposit are open in the US, UK and France, and Snap still says only that shipping starts in autumn 2026. A famous face now has the job of making that price feel worth it.