Meta is making a significant push to popularize its Ray-Ban smart glasses, launching a Super Bowl ad featuring stars Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt, and announcing a new model with augmented reality (AR) capabilities. The company aims to make AI-powered wearables mainstream, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating that over a million units were sold in 2024 and projecting future sales growth.
Later this year, Meta plans to release upgraded smart glasses that may include features like a small display for notifications and real-time translations. Competitors such as Samsung and various Chinese startups are also gearing up to enter the AI glasses market, potentially raising privacy concerns as more people wear cameras on their faces.
Since their initial release in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica in 2021, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been equipped with cameras, microphones, and speakers, allowing users to take photos, record videos, and interact with Meta’s AI assistant. This assistant can answer questions and provide information about objects the wearer sees, enhancing the user experience.
Despite the potential for privacy violations, Meta has implemented measures to prevent abuse, such as a visible recording indicator. While there have been some incidents of misuse, public backlash has been minimal so far. Analysts caution that as the glasses become more widespread, it could lead to increased scrutiny and the emergence of “bad actors” among users, highlighting the need for better public education about the device’s functions.
