Cyber Week Sale! 50% Off All Access

This Is Where Google Says Glass Went All Wrong The Explorer program may have brought too much early attention.

By Ben Geier

This story originally appeared on Fortune Magazine

The leader of the Google labs that gave life to the Google Glass smart glasses is coming clean about where the program went wrong.

Google X lead Astro Teller said at the South By Southwest Interactive festival Tuesday that the company put too much emphasis on the "Explorer" program, which got the smart glasses in the hands of early adopters, tech press and gadget evangelists. Teller said the Explorer program itself was a good idea, but it put "too much attention" on Google Glass before it was truly ready for primetime.

Teller was pretty relaxed about the mistake, though.

From Mashable:

"We made one really great decision, and one not so great," explained Astro Teller, the head of Google X division where Glass was conceived and managed, to a packed ballroom at SXSW Interactive. "The great decision was to do the Explorer program. The thing that we did not do well is that we allowed, and sometimes even encouraged, too much attention to the program."

Google posted revenue of $18.1 billion in its most recent quarterly earnings.

Ben Geier is an Online reporter @fortunemagazine.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

How to Eliminate Unnecessary Tasks and Focus on What Really Matters

Hack away at the unessential and reclaim your time.

Growing a Business

Who Shapes a Brand — The Leader or the Audience? Here's What Really Determines Success.

Great brands thrive at the crossroads of leadership vision and audience engagement, balancing strategic direction with real-time feedback to stay authentic, relevant and trusted.

Business Solutions

'Please Hold' is Officially Cancelled — How to Future-Proof Your Customer Service for Gen Z and Beyond

Customers are increasingly expecting better service. Younger generations are leading the way.

Growing a Business

How to Build a Winning Marketing Strategy That Sets Your Startup Apart

This guide outlines key strategies for startups to craft compelling narratives and effective marketing plans to overcome challenges and achieve long-term success.