Meta Releases Camera-Free AI Glasses, Answering Privacy Criticism?

Meta officially launched its latest lineup of AI-powered wearable devices, including a camera-free version of its smart glasses that relies solely on audio. The announcement was made by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the annual Connect conference in Menlo Park on Wednesday (18/9), amid growing global concerns about privacy violations caused by the mini cameras embedded in smart glasses.

The audio-only glasses are scheduled to start shipping on 13 October at a starting price of $349. Meta took this step after sharp criticism of the camera feature, which was seen as making it easier to record without consent, especially of women and children. Some even dubbed the previous device "pervert glasses".

Meta's Vice President of AI Product, Vishal Shah, stressed that privacy features such as a recording indicator light are a priority. "We want people to clearly understand that the device is recording, and we have made that light more explicit over time," he told AFP. He added that the message about privacy needs to be repeated because nothing has changed from the initial commitment.

Besides the audio-only glasses, Meta also introduced several new models of its flagship smart glasses, including a display version that projects images onto the lenses. The device will soon be available in new markets such as the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Canada. Meta also announced mixed reality glasses called Meta VR Glasses that are far lighter than the previous Quest headset, weighing the same as a deck of playing cards. The glasses rely on hand gestures and voice commands, and will sell for $1,299 in spring 2027.

Behind the hardware launch, Meta is pushing adoption of its AI assistant, Muse. The app is claimed to be the first consumer AI agent that can perform tasks on behalf of users, such as signing up for services, booking appointments, and making calls. Muse has become the top free app on Google Play Store and App Store, surpassing ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Zuckerberg also unveiled a small device called Muse Charm that will ship before the year-end holidays, enabling interaction with the Muse agent without a phone.

"There are nearly 2 billion people in the world who wear glasses today... and we believe that in the next few years, most of them will switch to AI glasses," Zuckerberg said.

Meta, which derives most of its revenue from advertising on Instagram and Facebook, faces major challenges regarding child safety and privacy in various countries. Last August, it settled lawsuits from US states by paying up to $18 billion and accepting restrictions for teenagers. The company also faces age-based bans abroad as well as thousands of potential personal injury lawsuits in the US.

For Indonesia, the launch of these camera-free AI glasses opens up both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, the device can encourage AI adoption in daily life, especially for privacy-conscious consumers. However, the personal data protection regulation recently implemented in Indonesia needs to anticipate the potential misuse of wearable devices. Indonesia's large market with active social media users is a potential target, but it is also vulnerable to privacy issues if not matched with education and oversight.

Going forward, Meta appears set to keep pushing innovation in the wearable and AI sectors, even as the shadow of legal disputes and privacy concerns continues to loom. Will this "camera-free" strategy be enough to dampen criticism, or will it instead become a new opening for Meta to expand its AI grip? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: the battle between innovation and privacy is heating up.