Meta is reportedly ready to launch less pervy smart glasses

Smart glasses with microphones but no cameras reduce surveillance risks and increase user comfort, making them more practical for everyday wear.

Meta is reportedly preparing to launch a new model of smart glasses, codenamed Luna, which will omit the camera entirely. This move comes amidst significant public backlash and privacy concerns surrounding the video recording capabilities of their current smart glasses. The Luna glasses, potentially announced at Meta Connect next week, will instead feature six microphones to interact with Meta AI and the Muse AI agent, alongside speakers for audio. The removal of the camera is expected to allow for a slimmer, more conventional frame design. Meta aims to ship these camera-free glasses in October, offering them in two styles. Additionally, Meta is said to be developing augmented reality glasses, codenamed Phoenix, with AR capabilities slated for a 2027 release.

Meta's strategic pivot to camera-free smart glasses, focusing on AI interaction via microphones, signals a significant market adjustment driven by privacy anxieties. By removing the most controversial component, Meta aims to overcome the public perception issues that have plagued its current smart glasses, attempting to integrate AI assistants into wearable technology without the inherent surveillance implications. This approach could redefine the acceptable use cases for smart glasses, shifting them from potential recording devices to personal AI companions.

The introduction of the Luna glasses, alongside future AR glasses like Phoenix, suggests Meta's dual-pronged strategy to capture both the immediate AI-driven wearable market and the longer-term augmented reality space. However, the continued presence of microphones and Meta's history of privacy issues mean that these new devices may still face scrutiny, particularly concerning data collection and user consent. The market will be watching closely to see if Meta can rebuild trust and establish a new standard for privacy-conscious smart wearable technology.