Amid global concerns over privacy violations and the recording of videos or images of women without their knowledge, Meta has unveiled several new artificial intelligence-powered wearable technologies. These include a pair of camera-free smart glasses with audio-only features.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the new lineup of glasses at the company’s annual Connect conference at its headquarters in Menlo Park. There, he also highlighted the features of the company’s new personal AI assistant, Muse.
Addressing developers and top executives, Zuckerberg said, “Around 200 crore people worldwide currently use glasses. We think a large portion of them will upgrade to AI glasses in the coming years.”
Meta is bringing the audio-based glasses to market amid growing global allegations of privacy violations through tiny cameras in smart glasses and other devices. Critics have described glasses with such hidden cameras as “pervert glasses.”
Ordinary smart glasses allow users to take photos, record video, listen to music, make phone calls, translate languages or interact with an AI assistant.
Alongside about a dozen new smart glasses models with video recording features, this camera-free audio version will be available in the market as an alternative.
In an interview with AFP on Wednesday, Vishal Shah, vice president of Meta’s AI products division, said adding privacy features such as an indicator light for recording is “really extremely important. We wanted people to clearly understand that something is being recorded with the device. So over time we have made this indicator light more visible.”
He added, “When the glasses were first unveiled, we talked a lot about this. But recently we feel it is necessary to publicize the issue more. Because these privacy issues have not changed at all.”
Meta launched its first smart glasses in 2021, and the technology has improved over time.
Last year, the company unveiled display glasses that can show images and information on the lenses.
Earlier this year, the company unveiled fully Meta-branded AI glasses, going beyond the Ray-Ban and Oakley Meta models produced in partnership with eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica.
Meta also announced several new styles of its mainstream Meta Ray-Ban glasses. The display version has a starting price of $799 and will soon be available in new markets including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Canada.
The company will soon bring to market mixed-reality glasses that are much lighter and more advanced than its previous Quest VR headset.
The device, called Meta VR Glasses, uses a wired external battery and memory pack, making the main headset much lighter.
Zuckerberg said the glasses weigh about as much as a deck of cards. They have no visible external switch or button and are operated only through hand gestures and voice commands.
The VR glasses will be available in 2027 at a price of $1 thousand 299.
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