Meta Connect puts smart glasses at the center of its hardware push
Meta used its Connect event to highlight a growing lineup of smart glasses, with staff and influencers wearing them throughout. The company demoed unreleased audio-only glasses with six microphones and no camera, intended to address privacy concerns while handling music and calls. Meta also showed integration with its Muse agent, allowing wearers to issue spoken commands, though the experience could be confused by nearby conversation.
At Meta Connect, the company placed smart glasses at the front of its hardware showcase. An unreleased audio-only model uses six microphones, omits a camera, and cannot natively capture surroundings, a design meant to reduce privacy worries. It felt lighter and more comfortable than other pairs tested.
Meta also demonstrated Muse, its personal agent, responding to spoken requests and optionally appearing as selectable digital avatars. The feature remains unavailable publicly. A separate hearing-focused pair, developed over roughly five years, will cost $150, far below some hearing aids priced near $1,600. Testers wore earplugs to simulate hearing loss, then tried focused or omnidirectional amplification.
These devices may reshape everyday interactions by making ambient computing more wearable, especially for people with hearing loss who could gain affordable amplification. Privacy-sensitive users may welcome camera-free audio glasses, yet microphone-equipped frames and agent confusion could raise consent and bystander concerns. Influencers and early adopters could normalize talking to eyewear in public, while broader adoption may depend on whether Meta addresses trust, usability, and accessibility.