Meta launches camera-free AI glasses amid privacy pushback

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg presents the new line of smart glasses during the Meta Connect event at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, US, on Sep 23, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barria)

MENLO PARK, United States: Meta unveiled several new wearables powered by its artificial intelligence models on Wednesday (Sep 23), including an audio-only, camera-free version of its smart glasses, amid global concerns about privacy and the filming of women and girls without their consent.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the new lineup of glasses at the social media giant's annual Connect conference at its Menlo Park headquarters, where he also touted the company's new personal artificial intelligence assistant, Muse.

"There are almost 2 billion people in the world who wear glasses today ... and we think that in the coming years, most of these are going to get upgraded to AI glasses," Zuckerberg told the audience of developers and executives.