AI on newer Meta smart glasses can use camera without recording light

Meta's defence of its smart glasses has come under increasing scrutiny following disclosures in official documentation that its warning light fails to illuminate during operations involving artificial intelligence (AI).

The company has defended the wearable technology by highlighting that it has an external LED that signals to bystanders when users take photographs or record video. Meta has even disabled the cameras on thousands of devices where wearers covered or removed the light. However, Ray-Ban frequently asked questions (FAQs) reveal that on newer models, the LED does not activate when users deploy camera-based AI features, such as identifying plants or landmarks.

Meta explained that these operational queries transmit images directly to AI models for environmental interpretation rather than saving them to a personal media gallery. The company said it excludes facial recognition from these consumer features, removes identifying information like licence plates and telephone numbers, and omits images from stored AI conversation histories, though it may use protected data to refine products. 

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