Meta Revives Facial Recognition Plans for Next-Gen Smart Glasses, Raising Privacy Concerns
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Meta Reportedly Eyeing 'Super Sensing' Tech for Smart Glasses
Meta is reportedly developing what it calls a "super sensing" type of facial recognition technology to its smart glasses lineup. A new report from The Information said Meta is developing software for the glasses that has the ability to recognize people by name and better keep track of what users
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Meta's new AI glasses could have a 'super-sensing' mode with facial recognition
Umar Shakir is a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge. Meta is developing what's described as "super-sensing" vision software that can recognize people by name, according to The
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Meta forges ahead with facial recognition for its AI glasses
Privacy is out, surveillance tech is in. Credit: Craig T Fruchtman / Getty Images Meet Aperol and Bellini, the codenames Meta has given its new "super-sensing" AI glasses with facial recognition technology, according to The Information. Meta originally scrapped the facial recognition feature for
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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
Existing glasses apparently have all the same sensors, but too small a battery for the feature to be worthwhile Meta's next smart glasses might always be watching with a new AI that can track everything you do. That's according to a leak from The Information (behind a paywall), which details two
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Years After Promising to Stop Facial Recognition Work, Meta Has a Devious New Plan
In 2021, Facebook said it was scrapping efforts to build powerful facial recognition software into its then-nascent smart glasses, citing the tech's glaring privacy and ethics concerns. Four years later, as The Information reports, the Silicon Valley behemoth has officially dusted off the effort
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Meta's next smart glasses may include an AI feature that's already raising eyebrows over privacy concerns
Meta has been dominating the smart glasses market with its Ray-Ban glasses. More than two million pairs have been sold since their launch back in 2023. Being the leader of smart glasses, Meta wants to hold onto its big lead with new features for its upcoming Meta Ray-Ban Glasses Gen 3, which
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Meta Considered Bringing Facial Recognition to Smart Glasses: Report
The facial recognition feature would be opt-in for owners of the glasses Meta recently discussed the addition of a new feature that would allow owners of its smart glasses to identify people near them by scanning their faces, according to a report. The feature is said to be opt-in for users, but
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Meta is Developing AI Smart Glasses That Never Stop Watching
This new feature will help with facial recognition and reminders for activity and surrounding based reminders. The future of wearable technology is likely going to be smart glasses, according to Meta. The company is already developing the next generation of Meta glasses with a "super sensing"
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Meta is reportedly developing "super sensing" AI technology for its upcoming smart glasses, including facial recognition capabilities, sparking debates about privacy and ethical concerns in wearable tech.
Meta's New Smart Glasses: A Leap in AI and Privacy Concerns
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is reportedly reviving its plans to incorporate facial recognition technology into its next generation of smart glasses. This development comes years after the company initially abandoned similar efforts due to privacy concerns
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.The "Super Sensing" Technology
Meta is developing what it calls "super sensing" vision software for two new pairs of smart glasses, internally codenamed Aperol and Bellini
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. This AI-powered feature would keep cameras and sensors always on, allowing the glasses to:- Recognize people by name using facial recognition
- Keep track of the wearer's daily activities
- Provide reminders based on visual cues (e.g., reminding to grab keys or pick up groceries)
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The technology is activated by a voice command, "Hey Meta, start live AI," and is designed to run for hours on a single charge
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.Privacy and Ethical Concerns
The reintroduction of facial recognition technology in Meta's smart glasses has reignited debates about privacy and ethics in wearable tech
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. Key concerns include:- Constant surveillance: The always-on nature of the technology raises questions about user privacy and data collection
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. - Consent issues: While the feature would be opt-in for wearers, it's unclear how consent would be obtained from individuals captured by the glasses
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. - Potential misuse: Critics worry about scenarios such as stalking, unauthorized identification, or law enforcement surveillance at public events
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Meta's Shifting Stance on Privacy
Meta's decision to revisit facial recognition technology marks a significant shift from its previous stance. In 2021, the company had scrapped similar plans due to ethical concerns
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. This change may be influenced by:- A more business-friendly regulatory environment
- Increased competition in the AI and wearable tech markets
- The potential value of user data for improving AI models and targeted advertising
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Industry Trends and Competition
Meta's move aligns with broader industry trends of leveraging AI and data collection in consumer tech:
- Google is developing its first smart glasses since Google Glass
- Other companies like Perplexity and OpenAI are exploring ways to gather more personalized user data
- The AI industry is facing challenges in finding new sources of training data
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Looking Ahead
As Meta continues to develop this technology, the company faces the challenge of balancing innovation with privacy concerns. The success of these smart glasses will likely depend on how well Meta addresses these issues and whether consumers are willing to embrace this level of AI integration in their daily lives
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