Meta is expected to unveil new smart glasses at its annual Connect conference, including a camera-free model, as privacy concerns continue to grow around AI-powered wearables.
The move could help Meta address concerns about smart glasses recording people without their knowledge. At the same time, removing cameras could make the devices less appealing to customers who value photo and video features.
Meta Expands Its Smart Glasses Lineup
Meta has become an early leader in the AI wearables market through its partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Ray-Ban.
Sales of their smart glasses reportedly passed 7 million last year. As a result, Meta has built a strong position in a growing market that also includes Chinese companies such as RayNeo and Xiaomi.
However, the rapid adoption of smart glasses has created new privacy concerns.
Several restaurants, pubs and theaters in the UK have already restricted their use. The main concern involves people recording others without clear consent.
Camera-Free Glasses Aim to Address Privacy
According to reports, Meta plans to introduce two camera-free smart glasses styles. They are reportedly called Clubmaster and Burbank.
The designs would still rely on microphones, speakers and AI features. Therefore, removing the camera would not eliminate every privacy concern.
Analysts also question whether consumers will see enough value in glasses that cannot capture photos or videos.
Linda Sui, founder of Smart Analytics Global, said audio recording could create similar concerns, although she expects the issue to be less serious than camera recording.
Meanwhile, she raised another question. If camera-free glasses do not include a heads-up display, consumers may wonder why they need them instead of Bluetooth earbuds.
Privacy Lawsuits Add Pressure on Meta
Meta’s smart glasses have also faced legal scrutiny.
A proposed California class-action lawsuit alleges that Meta misled users about privacy protections. The lawsuit also claims that human reviewers who helped train Meta’s AI viewed and labeled private footage after users uploaded recordings to company servers.
Meta disputes the allegations and plans to defend itself.
The legal concerns add another layer to the company’s effort to expand AI-powered hardware.
Meta May Also Launch New Camera Glasses
The camera-free models may not be the only new products coming from Meta.
Analysts expect the company to introduce another version of its camera-equipped Meta Ray-Ban glasses. Reports also point to a thinner augmented-reality model known by the internal name Phoenix.
The potential Phoenix launch would put Meta in closer competition with Snap. Snap recently announced new partnerships and software features for its $2,195 Specs augmented-reality glasses, which are expected to launch later this year.
AI Wearables Face a Privacy Challenge
Meta’s expected camera-free glasses highlight a wider problem for the AI wearables industry.
Manufacturers want to make devices smaller and more useful. At the same time, consumers and businesses want stronger privacy protections.
Removing cameras could reduce some concerns. However, microphones can still capture conversations and other sounds.
Ultimately, Meta will need to balance convenience, AI features and privacy as smart glasses become more common. The company’s latest products could show how the industry plans to handle that challenge.
