Meta wants its AI glasses to seem less creepy. Its AI strategy says otherwise.

Meta announced a safety feature for its AI glasses that disables the camera if the recording indicator LED has been tampered with, positioning this as a privacy protection against unauthorized surveillance. However, the announcement conflicts with Meta's broader AI strategy, which involves collecting extensive personal data through various means including training AI on user images, continuously recording audio, and using facial recognition, often with opt-out rather than opt-in requirements. The company faces multiple lawsuits and investigations related to privacy violations from its AI glasses, including allegations that workers had to view graphic content while training the AI on videos from the devices. This privacy safeguard for the glasses contrasts sharply with Meta's history of privacy controversies and its ongoing plans to use personal data from users' photos, searches, and chats for AI development and targeted advertising.