Meta ditches the camera on its newest smart glasses

Meta has released new smart glasses with audio capabilities but no cameras, departing from its previous camera-equipped models. This move comes amid growing public backlash against wearable surveillance technology, though the company states the audio-only design has been in development for years based on research showing audio as the top use case for AI glasses. The camera-free glasses are also lighter than previous versions, allowing Meta to remove electronics from the frame and improve design flexibility. The absence of cameras means the glasses lack the privacy concerns that have made people skeptical of recording smart glasses, though the source text does not detail what privacy controls, if any, have been added to address broader surveillance concerns.