Lorde expresses strong disapproval of AI smart glasses during her performance at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid. She cautioned the audience about the challenges of discerning reality in today’s world and bluntly discouraged the adoption of such technology, labeling it as unappealing.
The conversation around AI-powered eyewear has been fueled by Kylie Jenner’s collaboration with Meta to create a line of wearable tech featuring a camera, hands-free recording features, and an AI assistant with her voice. This move has sparked online criticism, particularly in light of reports worldwide about individuals using smart glasses to secretly film others, especially women, without their consent.
Despite the backlash, Jenner continues to promote the collection on social media, showcasing a new cat-eye style designed in collaboration with Meta. While some fans celebrated the launch, others criticized the product as unsettling and out of touch with reality, drawing comparisons to a dystopian scenario.
Critics have drawn attention to Jenner’s past experiences with paparazzi as a young celebrity, contrasting her current involvement in marketing the glasses. Farrah Khan, a consent educator, emphasized the potential harm of surveillance and stalking, particularly affecting women, and called for accountability from tech companies profiting from such technologies.
Meta’s recent backtrack on features allowing AI content creation using public accounts has added to the scrutiny faced by the company. Hollywood agencies and unions, including CAA and SAG-AFTRA, expressed concerns about privacy and consent in using individuals’ likeness without explicit permission, prompting Meta to retract the controversial feature.
In response to these developments, Meta highlighted the safety features of its AI glasses, emphasizing the presence of a visible capture LED to signal when content is being recorded. The company defended its approach to transparency in content creation and sharing, contrasting it with other devices lacking similar indicators.
As the debate surrounding AI glasses intensifies, stakeholders emphasize the need for responsible technology use and respect for privacy rights, urging companies like Meta to prioritize user consent and ethical practices in their innovations.