Meta Platforms is expected to unveil new smart glasses on Wednesday at its annual Connect conference, which will be streamed globally.
Among the products expected to be introduced is a pair of smart glasses without cameras, as concerns grow over the privacy implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered wearable devices capable of recording people without their consent.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, has emerged as an early leader in the race to bring AI-powered devices to consumers.
According to a Reuters report, sales of the smart glasses Meta developed with EssilorLuxottica surged in 2025 to more than $7 million, giving the company a dominant position in a market that also includes Chinese manufacturers such as RayNeo and Xiaomi.
However, the growing popularity of the devices has sparked privacy concerns about their potential to discreetly record people.
The report noted that several restaurants, pubs and theatres in the United Kingdom have restricted the use of the glasses.
The devices have also been the subject of legal action, including a proposed class-action lawsuit in California alleging that Meta misled users about their privacy protections.
Meta has denied the allegations and said it intends to defend itself.
According to The Information, Meta is expected to unveil camera-free glasses in two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank.
The company is also expected to introduce a new version of its Meta Ray-Ban glasses equipped with cameras, as well as a thinner, lighter pair of augmented-reality glasses, reportedly codenamed Phoenix.
The potential Phoenix launch comes days after Snap announced new partnerships and software details for its $2,195 augmented-reality glasses, which are expected to launch later this year.
Despite the planned camera-free models, some analysts remain doubtful that removing cameras alone will resolve privacy concerns surrounding AI-powered wearables that can still collect audio.
The absence of a camera could also affect consumer demand, as taking photographs and recording videos are among the most popular features of existing smart glasses.
“Microphones and audio collection could trigger similar concerns, although likely to a lesser degree,” Linda Sui, founder of market research firm Smart Analytics Global, said.
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Sui also questioned whether camera-free glasses without a heads-up display would offer enough distinction from other wearable devices.
“Consumers may ask why they need smart glasses rather than Bluetooth earbuds if the primary experience is limited to voice interaction, microphones and speakers,” she said.
