What to know about the Meta glasses the New Orleans attacker used
The man who drove a truck into a crowd of people in New Orleans on New Year's Day, killing 14, had previously scouted the French Quarter and recorded video with his Meta smart glasses, the FBI said.
On Oct. 31, Shamsud-Din Jabbar recorded video with the glasses as he cycled through the French Quarter and plotted the attack, said Lyonel Myrthil, FBI special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office. Jabbar also wore the glasses, which are capable of livestreaming, during the attack, but did not activate them.
Meta Glasses Overview
A spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, declined to comment. Meta glasses, made in partnership with Ray-Ban, are frames with a built-in camera, speakers, and artificial intelligence that can be controlled with your voice, buttons and some simple gestures.
Some functions, such as listening to music or interacting with Meta's AI assistant, require the device to be either paired with a phone or able to access the internet. The wearable does not have a display built into the lens, unlike some past industry attempts at building augmented-reality smart glasses.
Meta has mentioned that they are working on a pair of glasses that will give users a fully holographic experience.
One of the main selling points of the Meta glasses is the ability to capture images and video using the onboard camera, then upload those files to Instagram or Facebook. Users can also make audio and video calls, message people, or listen to music with the glasses.
The camera also allows Meta's AI assistant to see what the user is seeing, enabling it to translate text into multiple languages, answer simple questions, and identify landmarks. While the glasses can't perform complex tasks like making reservations or providing turn-by-turn directions, they offer a hands-free experience.
The presence of visual indicators in the glasses system notifies bystanders when the user is recording or taking photos, promoting privacy. According to Meta, users cannot disable this LED privacy indicator, ensuring transparency in the device's operations.
