Lorde criticizes Meta-linked AI glasses and calls them “not sexy”

In short: Lorde used a festival set in Madrid to slam AI smart glasses, pointing to discomfort and privacy concerns.

What's going on

Pop star Lorde criticized AI smart glasses during a performance at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid. In remarks reported by TechCrunch, she said it is getting “harder and harder to know what is real,” and complained that you cannot tell if someone is wearing normal sunglasses or glasses with a camera and AI features.

AI smart glasses look like regular glasses, but they can record video and use AI (software that can analyze and respond, a bit like a very fast assistant) to do things like describe what the wearer is seeing. Some security and privacy experts have warned that this kind of device can make it easier to record people without clear consent, even when there is a small recording light.

The comments also landed in a place where the product is visible. Ray-Ban sponsored the festival and Ray-Ban partners with Meta to sell these glasses. Lorde performed right before singer Jennie, who has been promoted as an ambassador for the Ray-Ban x Meta smart glasses line.

What to watch

Despite ongoing criticism, Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses have sold well, and Meta has continued to expand its lineup. At the same time, the company is facing investigations and lawsuits that allege privacy problems linked to the glasses. If more celebrities and everyday users publicly push back, companies may respond with clearer signals when recording is happening, or tighter limits on how the glasses can be used in public.

Source: TechCrunch AI