META UNVEILS CAMERA-FREE AI GLASSES AMID GROWING PRIVACY CONCERNS

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Agency Report

Meta has introduced a new range of AI-powered wearable devices, including a camera-free smart glasses model, as concerns over privacy and the unauthorised recording of people continue to grow globally.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the new products on Wednesday during the company’s annual Connect conference at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. He also highlighted Muse, the company’s new personal artificial intelligence assistant, which he described as central to Meta’s future AI strategy.

The audio-only smart glasses, which do not have cameras, are scheduled to go on sale on October 13 at a starting price of $349. The device is being introduced as privacy concerns surrounding camera-equipped smart glasses continue to attract attention, particularly over the potential for people to be recorded without their knowledge or consent.

Smart glasses can allow users to take photographs and record videos, listen to music, make phone calls, translate text and interact with AI assistants.

Meta said the new audio-only glasses will complement several other smart glasses that retain photography and video-recording capabilities.

The company’s Vice President of AI Product, Vishal Shah, said privacy measures, including a visible recording indicator light, remain an important part of the products.

Shah explained that Meta had made the recording light increasingly noticeable to ensure that people around the wearer could clearly understand when the glasses were recording.

Meta, which has nearly four billion monthly active users across its platforms, is increasingly investing in wearable technology as a way of expanding access to its AI services.

The company launched its first smart glasses in 2021 and later introduced display-enabled glasses capable of projecting information onto the lenses.

Meta also announced new versions of its Meta Ray-Ban glasses, while its display model, starting at $799, is expected to expand into markets including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Canada.

The technology giant also unveiled lighter mixed-reality glasses, called Meta VR Glasses, which are connected by a cable to an external battery and memory pack. Zuckerberg said the device weighs roughly as much as a deck of cards and relies on hand gestures and voice commands rather than external controls.

The Meta VR Glasses are expected to launch in spring 2027 at $1,299.

Meanwhile, Meta is integrating its new wearables with Muse, an AI-powered consumer assistant designed to perform tasks on behalf of users.

After users connect accounts linked to services such as finance, health and shopping, Muse can reportedly help with tasks including signing up for services, booking appointments and making phone calls.

Meta also announced Muse Charm, a small puck-shaped device with a display that will allow users to interact with the AI assistant without relying on a smartphone. The company said it would be released before the end of the year but did not disclose its price.

The expansion of Meta’s AI products comes as the company faces growing scrutiny over privacy and child safety.

In August, Meta reached a settlement with several US states over allegations involving consumer protection and children’s online privacy laws. The agreement reportedly includes financial penalties and restrictions affecting teenagers.

The company is also facing regulatory measures in other countries and thousands of potential personal injury lawsuits in the United States.