Meta and Samsung explore AI hardware to succeed smartphones

Technology giants are betting that artificial intelligence-driven devices will eventually replace smartphones. However, global privacy concerns regarding devices that can see, hear, and interact with their surroundings threaten to slow the adoption of this emerging technology.

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, a collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, have become a focal point for these concerns. The devices have faced legal challenges over privacy issues, with users expressing fears regarding covert recordings and critics warning about the loss of anonymity and consent. In response, some establishments, such as the Wetherspoon pub chain in the United Kingdom, have already restricted their use.

To address these pressures, Meta is expected to present smart glass models without cameras at its Connect conference. Meanwhile, Samsung is exploring various form factors, including pins, medallions, and magnetic voice recorders, to make interaction more natural and reliable. Samsung executive vice president Jay Kim noted that as AI takes on more tasks, users will demand systems that are secure and under their full control.