Meta launches camera-free smart glasses to ease privacy worries
Meta unveiled camera-free smart glasses with microphone and AI. They roll out from October 13.
Meta released a new version of its smart glasses without built-in cameras. The camera-free design follows privacy complaints about people secretly filming bystanders.
The glasses keep the microphone, speaker, and AI features of earlier models. The glasses work with Muse, Meta's new AI agent that responds to voice commands.
Without camera hardware, the devices are lighter, slimmer, and have longer battery life than camera-equipped versions. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company developed the camera-free design over several years.
It was not a recent response to community concerns. Meta will continue making and selling its standard smart glasses with cameras.
Australian councils have already banned smart glasses from public facilities over privacy fears.
- October 13
- Rollout date
- Meta Connect in Menlo Park, California
- Announcement venue
- Developed over several years, not months
- Development timeline
Why it mattersPrivacy concerns about secret recording in public pushed a major tech company to build a camera-free device. This shows that companies now see wearable privacy as a product choice.
AustraliaAustralian users can buy camera-free smart glasses from October 13. Australian councils ban camera-equipped versions from public buildings, so camera-free may ease entry to those spaces.
Corroborated bytheguardian.com
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 18 h ago
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