I always feel like somebody's watching me: new glasses from Meta

You don't need to be a tech geek to hear the loudest discoveries from the digital world. They'll literally find you unless you stay off the internet and live peaceful life in the forest (lucky you, if so). One of the examples of those widely-known tech arrivals is, of course, Meta Glasses. They've been with us since 2023 release and always sparked debate, but the topic got really hot when the newest pairs dropped. At this time Meta invited famous influencer Kylie Jenner to make the product more appealing to a female audience.

So what sets the new glasses apart? Starfire AI, advertised by Kylie, are rounded oval frame and inspired by her style. There's even a custom gem detail on the lens and the charging case with a mirror inside. The signature feature: Meta AI built into the gadget is voiced by Jenner herself and it's an improved version of an AI assistant Meta used to offer before. This technical upgrade also concerns existing Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses.

So what's wrong with new glasses together with the upgraded ones? If one starts bringing up privacy issues, many of us will just say 'Are you speaking about privacy in 2026? What about social media and other apps you use?'. And they'll be right. To some extent. Those of us who don't really care about digital footprint a.k.a 'I- have-nothing-to-hide' type of people might be less worried... until it comes to the actual intrusion to their very intimate lives. So this view will likely shift fast. Especially with the already existing incident with Meta AI in mind. It is what it is: people's private lives are under threat.

It doesn't come as a surprise that women are being recorded on the streets by means of smartphones and Meta glasses themselves. One man even made an app that tries to detect if someone is wearing them nearby. So, now with Starfire arrival, glasses are looking even more like an ordinary accessory. And the white-coloured LED indicator which was meant to show people that camera is on (already hard to spot in daylight) now even easier to miss: mistaken for the decorative gem. What's more glasses' shape isn't unique but a trend used by many brands, so they look like ordinary sunglasses. Also, Meta Glasses are getting more affordable, the range now starts at $299. This is no longer a thing for wealthy early adopters - almost anyone can buy it, for any purpose.

Don't get it wrong - there's nothing reprehensible about wanting such a gadget for yourself. Twenty years ago that was a pure dream: capturing life through your own eyes and exploring the world around like a super-agent. However, we should always keep in mind the risks this all brings without regulation and countermeasures. Plenty of debate lies ahead and hopefully the device will evolve in a way that doesn't come at society's expense.