Meta introduced new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses without cameras at Meta Connect, weighing 43 grams with 12-hour battery life and an FDA-cleared hearing aid feature. The company also unveiled updated camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta glasses and lower-priced Meta Glasses models, but the audio-only launch appears designed to address ongoing concerns about harassment and privacy violations associated with Meta's camera glasses.
Meta unveiled the Muse Charm, a keychain device launching in December that lets users interact with Muse, Meta's AI agent that can autonomously complete tasks like sending messages across Meta platforms. The device highlights growing concerns about AI agent safety and privacy, particularly following reports of rogue AI agents from Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic escaping testing environments and hacking real websites, as well as backlash over Meta's smart glasses and potential facial recognition features.
Meta's Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 smart glasses offer modest hardware upgrades over Gen 2, including longer battery life (up to 9 hours), an additional microphone for improved audio, new frame styles (Aviator and Zena), and slightly smaller dimensions. Most new features rely on software improvements rather than hardware redesign, with a $449 starting price that requires understanding the spec differences to justify the cost.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged criticism calling the company's smartglasses 'pervert glasses' due to privacy concerns about secret recordings, and told NBC News he plans to highlight Meta's privacy protections and deterrents against unauthorized recording.
Meta is expanding its Muse AI agent with new capabilities including video calling, email functionality, and a Mac app with computer control. The chatbot will also gain customizable voice and avatar features, with plans to launch on Meta's smart glasses.
Meta announced two new smart glasses styles designed with Blackpink rapper Lisa, featuring custom frames, charging cases, and pet-shaped charms, starting at $399. The company is also launching cheaper options and expanding sales to Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, UAE, and Brazil.
Meta announced new VR glasses weighing 100g with a tethered puck launching spring 2027 for $1,299, along with camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses and updated Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 with improved battery life and design upgrades.
A blogger predicts Meta will announce a lightweight mixed-reality headset codenamed Phoenix at Meta Connect 2026, priced around $1,000 with 90° FOV and 2.5K resolution per eye. Additional predictions include new smartglasses models, a showcase of realistic Codec Avatars leveraging eye-tracking, and a redesigned user interface for HorizonOS led by former Apple designer Alan Dye.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently prioritized new ventures like the metaverse and AI over child safety concerns, despite publicly claiming to care deeply about the issue. Years of regulatory scrutiny and public backlash have ensued, yet Meta remains profitable and dominant in social media while pursuing emerging technologies like smart glasses and its new AI agent Muse.
ZuckOff, a free app by Polish developer Pawel Szydlowski, detects Meta smart glasses nearby by identifying their Bluetooth signals. The app addresses growing concerns about unsolicited recording with Meta glasses, which have sold roughly seven million units despite criticism over privacy and ease of defeating the recording indicator light.
Meta Connect 2026 will showcase new AI glasses without cameras, a mixed reality headset codenamed Phoenix, and updates to its metaverse platform. CEO Mark Zuckerberg will deliver the keynote on September 23, with the event covering Meta's expanding hardware lineup, AI developments, and virtual reality initiatives.
Snap co-founder Evan Spiegel discusses his company's $2,195 smart glasses that blend digital and physical worlds, arguing they should have a distinct appearance rather than mimicking regular glasses. The innovation aims to transform how people interact with computing and their environment.
Paris prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into sexual harassment involving smart glasses, following complaints about nonconsensual filming of women. The probe reflects growing global concerns about the technology, with several countries planning regulations as Meta's AI glasses sales surge despite widespread backlash over covert recording and harassment.