Meta to launch AI glasses without camera

Meta is planning to launch a new pair of smart glasses without a camera, marking a major shift from its popular Ray-Ban Meta lineup.

According to US tech outlet 'The Information', the new model is internally codenamed “Luna” and could be unveiled at Meta’s annual Connect developer conference on September 23-24, with shipments expected to begin in October.

The move comes amid growing scrutiny over camera-equipped smart glasses. A BBC investigation earlier this year found dozens of accounts posting videos of women recorded in public without consent using Meta glasses. Schools, cinemas and other public venues have increasingly banned the devices over privacy concerns.

Unlike current models, Luna will reportedly focus entirely on voice-based artificial intelligence. It will feature six built-in microphones to interact with Meta AI and Muse, the company’s newly launched consumer AI agent, along with a side button for quick activation. Speakers will be similar to those used in existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

While the devices have proved more successful than rivals, critics have labelled them “spy glasses” and “perv glasses”.

Meta’s Reality Labs division, which develops the smart glasses, continues to incur heavy losses despite growth in the sector. The company has not yet officially commented on the Luna report.