Meta launches camera-free AI glasses amid privacy pushback

Meta introduced a new range of wearables featuring artificial intelligence on Wednesday during its Connect conference in Menlo Park. The centerpiece was audio-only smart glasses, absent of cameras, amid heightened global concerns over privacy issues. CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted that nearly two billion people already wear glasses and predicted that most will soon be upgraded to AI-powered versions.

The audio glasses will launch on October 13 at $349. Meta's vice president of AI product, Vishal Shah, emphasized the importance of privacy features like a recording indicator light. The company's AI assistant, Muse, is set to be the star of the showcase, touted as the "centrepiece of our vision." Users can ask Muse to perform tasks like booking appointments and making calls with personal account integrations.

Muse topped the charts in Google Play and Apple App Stores, outperforming OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Google's Gemini. Meta aims to integrate the AI assistant into various services, including partnerships with Walmart, Best Buy, Gap, and Sephora. The company also unveiled new styles of its Meta Ray-Ban glasses and lighter mixed reality glasses, expected to launch in 2027 for $1,299.

Despite Meta's billions invested in AI, the company faces scrutiny over privacy, child safety, and global regulatory challenges.