Meta unveils AI-driven smart glasses without cameras

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled new smart glasses that lack cameras, focusing instead on audio and artificial intelligence. Announced at the Meta Connect conference, these glasses are designed to be lighter and thinner than previous models, featuring longer battery life. The company plans to integrate ‘Muse’, its AI-powered personal assistant, into the devices in the coming weeks.

The shift toward camera-less designs follows significant privacy backlash regarding Meta’s existing smart glasses. Previous models, such as the Ray-Ban Meta series, have faced scrutiny in Europe and elsewhere for potentially recording individuals in public without consent. For instance, French authorities have investigated footage of women filmed in streets without their knowledge, and Oslo has banned their use in schools.

While Meta maintains that its LED recording indicators are sufficient to alert bystanders, critics argue these lights are too subtle to ensure privacy. As Meta pivots its focus from the metaverse toward ‘super-personal AI’, the company is also developing lightweight virtual reality glasses expected to launch in 2027.