Meta develops always-on smart glasses with continuous sensing

The proposed system sidesteps direct storage of raw footage. Instead, the glasses extract metadata, sending it to servers for the AI to process. This approach is framed by proponents as a privacy-conscious alternative to saving video files, though it creates a new paradigm where the device is effectively always watching and listening to the wearer's surroundings.

This development arrives amid mounting pressure on Meta regarding privacy and device integrity. The company recently moved to disable cameras if it detects tampering with LED recording indicators, a response to third-party modifications that bypass these visual warnings. Despite these efforts, internal plans suggest the LED would remain dark during "AI Feature" modes. Meta argues that keeping the light off during tasks like scanning a menu prevents users from becoming desensitized to the signal, yet this policy risks intensifying public scrutiny over surveillance and consent in public spaces.