Key Takeaways
- Meta is set to unveil a new pair of smart glasses without a camera.
- The glasses, named Luna, will feature six microphones and speakers for voice interaction.
- Meta hopes the camera-free design will appeal to hesitant buyers.
Meta is developing a new pair of smart glasses, codenamed Luna, which will not include a camera, according to reports from The Information. The glasses are expected to be unveiled during Meta's annual Connect developer conference on September 23 and 24.
The new design includes six built-in microphones and speakers positioned towards the user’s ears, allowing for voice interaction with Meta AI and the new Muse AI agent. The glasses are also expected to have slimmer temples, making them look more like conventional eyewear.
Privacy concerns have followed Meta’s existing smart glasses, which have sold well but have faced criticism over potential misuse of the built-in cameras. Critics have referred to the products as 'pervert glasses' due to concerns about secret recording or harassment.
To address these concerns, Meta has implemented an anti-recording indicator in the form of an LED light that flashes during video recording. However, users could previously tamper with the LED to prevent it from lighting up during recording. The company later released an update to address this issue.
In August, Meta closed another loophole that allowed users to begin recording and then cover the LED light while filming others. Despite these changes, privacy concerns have continued to affect the reputation of Meta’s camera-equipped glasses.
Meta is reportedly targeting hesitant buyers with the camera-free design of Luna, hoping it will appeal to those who have avoided purchasing the current models due to privacy concerns. If the reported timeline holds, Meta could announce Luna at Connect later this month and begin shipping the glasses in October.
The new design is expected to include two styles named Clubmaster and Burbank, making the glasses look more like conventional eyewear. The glasses are expected to provide quick access to the AI assistant through a button on the side.
The launch of Luna comes amid a PR crisis for Meta, caused by the video recording capabilities of its flagship smart glasses. The company is hoping that the camera-free design will help improve its reputation and attract more buyers.
