Meta expected to unveil smart glasses without camera as privacy concerns grow

Meta Platforms is expected to unveil new smart glasses at its annual Connect conference on Wednesday, including a pair without cameras.

The move comes amid growing privacy concerns about AI devices that can record people without their consent.

Will Meta make glasses without a camera?

Yes. Meta is expected to launch a camera-free pair in two styles at Connect this week, according to The Information, as it responds to mounting backlash over the recording capabilities of its existing smart glasses.

Analysts expect the company to also unveil new camera-equipped and augmented-reality models at the same event.

Why are privacy concerns growing around smart glasses?

Meta is the early leader in the race to put AI devices in the hands of customers. Sales of the smart glasses it co-developed with EssilorLuxottica surged last year to more than 7 million, giving Meta a dominant share of a market where it mainly faces competition from Chinese companies such as RayNeo and Xiaomi.

But the devices' growing popularity has sparked global concern about their ability to covertly record people, with several UK restaurants, pubs and theatres restricting their use.

What lawsuits has Meta faced over its smart glasses?

The glasses have also drawn lawsuits, including a proposed class action in California alleging Meta misled users about privacy protections. The suit claims human annotators training Meta's AI viewed and labelled footage of people's private moments, including changing clothes, after the recordings were uploaded to its servers. Meta contests the allegations and plans to defend itself.

What other glasses might Meta launch at Connect?

Meta is expected to unveil the camera-free glasses in two styles, one called Clubmaster and another named Burbank, according to The Information. Analysts expect the company to also launch a new version of its Meta Ray-Ban glasses with cameras, as well as a thinner, lighter pair of augmented-reality glasses reportedly code-named Phoenix.

The potential Phoenix launch comes days after Snap unveiled new partnerships and software details about its $2,195 Specs augmented-reality glasses, which launch later this year.

Can removing the camera solve privacy concerns?

Some analysts doubt that removing cameras alone can resolve privacy concerns about AI devices, since the glasses can still record audio. Losing the camera may also blunt demand, as capturing photos and video ranks among the devices' most popular features. "Microphones and audio collection could trigger similar concerns, although likely to a lesser degree," said Linda Sui, founder of Smart Analytics Global, a market research firm.

"More importantly, removing the camera from glasses that also lack a heads-up display will create a product differentiation challenge. Consumers may ask why they need smart glasses rather than Bluetooth earbuds if the primary experience is limited to voice interaction, microphones and speakers."