Meta's New Smart Glasses Drop the Camera After Spying Backlash

Meta held its big annual product event on Wednesday, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg promising a future "built for everyone." The headline act was smart glasses — regular-looking eyewear with hidden tech inside. But this year came a surprise: Meta's newest pair drops the camera entirely. That's a direct response to a rough couple of years, in which the camera-equipped frames earned the nickname "pervert glasses" amid worries that wearers could secretly record strangers in bathrooms, gyms, and on the street.

For anyone who's ever felt uneasy sitting across from someone in camera glasses, that's the real news here. Meta has tried privacy patches and a friendlier ad campaign, but taking the camera out is the bluntest fix yet. It also hints the company knows the hardware only sells if the people standing next to you don't feel watched. Expect the camera-free version to be positioned as the "polite" option, with camera models still around for people who want them.

Meta also pushed further into AI that does things for you, not just chats. Its Muse assistant — described as an "agent," meaning AI that can take actions on your behalf — now has its own standalone gadget, and it's woven into the glasses too. Imagine asking your eyewear to remember where you parked or message a friend, hands-free. Convenient, yes, but also a lot of trust placed in one company that already knows a great deal about you.

Rounding out the show: Quest VR headset owners will soon be able to rent or buy movies right inside the headset, turning the device into more of a personal cinema. Meta's pattern is clear — it wants its hardware in your daily life, on your face and in your living room. The camera removal suggests it's finally listening to the awkwardness factor.