Meta's next smart glasses might have an always-on AI I don't care how useful it is, I'm never turning it on

Date:
Thu, 08 May 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Description:
Metas next Ray-Ban smart glasses could have an AI that watches everything you do, and I hate it.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Meta is apparently working on glasses with always-on AI It can recognize people's faces and remind you of things you forget Existing glasses apparently have
all the same sensors, but too small a battery for the feature to be
worthwhile

Metas next smart glasses might always be watching with a new AI that can
track everything you do.

Thats according to a leak from The Information (behind a paywall), which details two pairs of specs the company is working on, according to insiders.

Internally codenamed Aperol and Bellini, the two pairs of specs would feature a new live AI. You start it with a command phrase, like Hey Meta, start live AI, and the glasses would start recording your every move.

This includes being able to recognize people with facial recognition, and to remind you of things like your house keys if the glasses saw you forgot them. (Image credit: Meta)

The current Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses models are apparently already packed with the sensors theyd need to pull off this same feat of AI.

Unfortunately, those familiar with Metas tests with the existing glasses have said the feature cuts their battery life to only 30 minutes, which isnt
ideal.

Metas current focus is reportedly to have its in-development glasses and a pair of Meta earbuds that will supposedly also boast cameras and super
sensing software run for hours on a single charge with this feature switched on. (Image credit: Ray-Ban / Meta) Always watching

In many ways, I can see the advantage of this always-live AI assistant.
Anyone who has locked themselves out wishes theyd had a little software assistant reminding them to pick up their keys before they leave home.

At the same time, it sounds like a privacy nightmare.

People who point somewhat nervously at my Meta Ray-Ban glasses and ask, Are those recording us right now? always seem to relax when I show them theyre switched off or explain they only record when instructed, like if I say, Hey Meta, take a picture.

Now, imagine I instead say, Yeah, theyve been recording you the whole time. I imagine Id lose a few teeth.

The Information's report also suggests Meta has reworked its privacy and safety policy to speed up innovation, which, in conjunction with the huge amounts of data this live AI will collect, isnt something that fills me with joy. Personally, this seems like the time to tighten your privacy policies to ensure sensitive data isnt shared in a way it shouldnt be. I love my Ray-Ban smart glasses, but I'm not keen on an always-on AI (Image credit: Future)

I expect this AI would come with some of Metas existing safety features, such as the light on the glasses being on while youre recording, and it is at
least a feature you have to manually activate, but (call me old fashioned) I cant imagine ever wanting a camera to record my every move.

Others will probably feel similarly about these potential new always-on AI glasses. Just look at the backlash against Microsofts always-on AI feature, Recall and that was an app that just took computer screenshots.

As with all rumors, well have to wait and see what Meta announces officially, but Im hoping the final product isnt anything as scary as it sounds right
now. You might also like Meta announces a big change to its Quest 3 game subscription but it remains as great a deal as ever I took my Meta Quest 3
on a 3,000-mile flight so you dont have to here's what I learned Mark Zuckerberg confirms new Ray-Ban smart glasses are coming later this year
here are the 3 pairs I think well see



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/metas-ne xt-smart-glasses-might-have-an-always-on-ai-i-dont-care-how-useful-it-is-im-ne ver-turning-it-on


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