Kids News: Aussies divided over Meta's AI smart glasses | KidsNews
We’re a nation of early adopters when it comes to embracing new technology – but a recent vox pop suggests the average Aussie has serious concerns about ‘spy AI’ features in this fashion accessory.
The artificial intelligence future is here – and the word on the street was that Australians were none too sure about one new high tech product being sold to consumers. The Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses first launched overseas in 2023 and became available in Australia in late 2024.
The smart glasses retail for around $450. They allow you to listen to music, film, make calls, and even interact with Meta AI — basically, they’re like wearing a Google Home on your face. To use the glasses, all the wearer has to do is say: “Hey Meta” and say what they want it to do. If you don’t mind walking around looking like you’re talking to yourself, this could be a nifty piece of technology for you.
Celebrity Endorsement
Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt have even done ads to promote the high spec tech sunnies. A major celebrity endorsement is often enough to win over the masses, but not this time. When news.com.au hit the streets of Sydney for a vox pop, Aussies weren’t fussed by the eyewear.
In fact, they were straight-up unsettled and most didn’t want a bar of the tech-savvy glasses, not even with Chris Hemsworth’s stamp of approval. When ordinary Australians were asked for their opinion on the street, they weren’t shy about sharing their doubts.
Public Opinion
When asked what he thought of the product, one man didn’t hesitate: “I think it is creepy as hell,” he said. “I wouldn’t buy them for myself and I’d prefer other people didn’t buy them,” he added. One young woman thought the glasses were “cool” and “had their place” in 2025 but she also said: “They freak me out”. Similarly, a young man stopped and said he found them a “pretty weird piece of technology”.
“I’ve seen people around in nightclubs, recording people when they’re dancing and stuff,” he said. Another young person stopped and said she wasn’t sold on the technology either. “I think it is creepy,” she said. “You could have been filming me this whole time and I just wouldn’t have known. I think that is kind of scary.”
One man put his detective skills to work and decided that the glasses weren’t that creepy because you could tell when someone was filming you. “I know you’re filming because it is flashing,” he said. “As long as that flash is there and I’m aware you’re recording me, I don’t really mind.” His point raised important questions about those who miss the telltale flash. They won’t know that they’re being recorded without their knowledge or consent, as a female passer-by pointed out.
