By Jackson O’Keefe

In a time and age constantly being redefined by the newest innovations of modern technology, the social media giant Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) has just taken a massive leap in the world of virtual (VR) and augmented realities (AR), creating a device with the potential to change how humans see and interact with the virtual world and blurring the lines between what is real and what is fake.

In recent years, there have been many new advancements in the technological world regarding virtual reality, such as virtual reality headsets, self-driving cars, and even artificial intelligence (AI) sunglasses. Virtual reality headsets have the ability to immerse the user into a world of their imagination, whether that takes you on a journey through the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or playing video games with your best friends, almost as if you are hanging out with them in real life. People have come to rely on this separate universe as an escape from reality into what many call the “metaverse.” 

Meta Ray-Bans in caramel.

Meta recently partnered with the sunglass company Ray-Ban to span the bridge between the augmented metaverse and the physical world by the creation of immersive artificial reality glasses. The relatively small glasses are retailed at $329 for the “Meta Headliner” and $299 for the “Meta Wayfarer.” Both of these editions of the glasses are packed with technology, such as an ultrawide 12 MP camera, a five-mic system, open-ear sound systems, voice-activated artificial intelligence, and voice controls. Both of these versions consist of the same cutting-edge technology, and the difference in price stems from a cosmetic difference between the two. The Headliner has a less boxy look than the classic Wayfarers. On top of the existing shiny and matte black frames, there are three new semi-transparent color options: jeans, caramel, and a smokey Rebel Black.

Meta’s new glasses became available for purchase on October 17. When they were first unveiled, Meta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder Mark Zuckerberg had this to say: “They are designed to stay in the moment and stay connected, and capture a moment without a phone in hand.” Aside from the new specs and features from version one of the Meta Ray-Bans, they are the first smart glasses built and shipped with Meta AI built intact and wired into the glasses. 

Meta Ray-Bans in the color “jeans.”

If unsure of where you are, or what you’re looking at, you can simply ask the glasses, and Meta AI will do the research and have an answer for you. If you have a leaky pipe and are unsure of how to fix it, the AI can give step-by-step instructions on how to repair the issue without having to contact a professional. Perhaps the most impressive thing about these glasses, though, is not the intricate technologies, but how Meta and Ray-Ban were able to fit all these different features into the glasses while also making them stylish and trendworthy.

However, what hasn’t been making the news as frequently with the exposure it should be receiving is the collection of data by Meta. The company collects data from its app users, and the colossal concern that comes from these glasses is what this means for the wearer of the glasses. Will they be constantly collecting data from everything you look at? Or will they only collect data when artificial intelligence is activated? 

Products similar to the glasses have come before and experienced similar issues. On April 15, 2013, Google released a smart glasses product themselves, the first of their kind, called “Google Glasses.” These glasses had similar features to the Meta Ray-Bans, like cameras for recording everyday life. Fears of surveillance resulted in some public places, like bars and restaurants, placing a ban on wearing these smart glasses for privacy reasons.

All photos courtesy of trustedreviews.com.