At Meta Connect, the company’s smart glasses were everywhere

At Meta Connect 2023, the social media giant made smart glasses a central theme. The company displayed a variety of its latest hardware and AI products, and nearly every attendee seemed to sport the glasses. The event featured numerous demonstrations of the glasses. Among the products I had the chance to test were the new, unreleased audio-only smart glasses, which were well-received despite initial privacy concerns.

These glasses featured six microphones but no camera, and were marketed as a solution to avoid the "pervert glasses" accusations the company faced earlier. They were notably lighter and more comfortable than other smart glasses I've tried. The glasses can play music, take phone calls, and integrate with Meta's personal agentic system, Muse.

This integration allows users to give verbal commands to the agent and receive responses, making tasks like sending emails or asking for grocery lists hands-free. The new glasses for the hearing impaired, which were also tested, were designed to amplify speech for users with hearing loss. Priced at $150, they are significantly more affordable than traditional hearing aids, which can cost up to $1,600.

While Meta's ambitious approach has raised eyebrows, the company's commitment to making smart glasses a part of everyday life was clear. The future of smart glasses, according to Meta, seems promising as they continue to refine their offerings.