Meta is reportedly ready to launch less pervy smart glasses

A report in The Information, summarized by The Verge, says Meta could introduce a camera-free smart glasses model called Luna at its Meta Connect event next week. Rather than including a camera, the glasses will reportedly rely on six built-in microphones and onboard speakers so wearers can converse with Meta AI and the new Muse AI agent. Removing the camera has allowed Meta to slim the glasses’ arms and make the frames resemble conventional eyewear. According to the report, Meta is aiming to begin shipping the Luna glasses in October and plans two style options named Clubmaster and Burbank. The company’s move toward a camera-free design appears timed to address a growing public relations problem tied to its existing camera-equipped frames, which have drawn criticism and led to bans in locations including New York courtrooms and Britain’s largest pub chain. Meta’s current frames include a recording LED and the company says the camera will stop working if that LED has been tampered with, but small groups of users have developed workarounds to record with the indicator off. That history of misuse has contributed to a broader privacy backlash around wearable cameras. The Information also reports Meta will show a separate augmented-reality prototype, codenamed Phoenix, at Connect; Phoenix is described as an AR device capable of displaying virtual workspaces or movie screens and is slated for a 2027 release following a related 2024 concept. Observers warn that removing a camera may not fully resolve privacy concerns, since always-on audio and a design that closely mimics ordinary glasses could still raise questions about surveillance and trust in Meta’s hardware.