Meta is contemplating the addition of facial recognition technology to its smart glasses possibly within this year, as per a recent report from The New York Times. The new feature, internally dubbed as “Name Tag,” would enable users to recognize individuals within their line of sight and access information about them through Meta’s AI assistant. The report warned that the company’s intentions are subject to change, highlighting ongoing discussions among executives since early last year on the introduction of a tool presenting substantial safety and privacy concerns.
As per an internal memo referenced in the report, Meta initially intended to pilot the feature with participants at a conference for the visually impaired before a wider rollout. However, this plan was ultimately shelved. The memo also hinted that Meta officials believed the current political environment in the US could potentially lessen scrutiny from civil society groups that would typically question the technology.
While Meta had previously considered integrating facial recognition into the initial version of its Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2021, it abandoned the idea citing technical challenges and ethical dilemmas. The renewed interest in this technology coincides with Meta’s unexpected commercial achievements with its smart glasses and the shifting dynamics in the relationship between major tech companies and the US government.
In a past report by The Information, it was suggested that Meta’s upcoming AI glasses might feature an always-on “super-sensing” mode, utilizing built-in cameras to track users’ daily routines and identify specific individuals. Furthermore, Meta has updated its privacy policy, clarifying that the camera functionality of Meta AI on the glasses remains active by default unless users opt to disable the “Hey Meta” voice command feature.
