Photo: David Travis on Unsplash
Smart glasses are back: what they do and the privacy questions
In short: Smart glasses with cameras, open-ear speakers and AI assistants are one of the fastest-growing gadget categories. IDC figures show most sales are audio and camera glasses without a display, with Meta holding the largest share. They are handy for hands-free photos, calls and questions, but raise real privacy concerns about recording people without their knowledge.
From flop to fashion
Earlier attempts at smart glasses, more than a decade ago, were expensive, odd-looking and widely mocked. Today's versions mostly look like ordinary glasses or sunglasses. They hide a small camera, microphones, speakers that play sound towards your ears without covering them, and a link to an AI assistant on your phone.
How many people are buying them?
According to research firm IDC, shipments of headsets and glasses grew by about 35 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, after even faster growth earlier in the year. Glasses without a display, which focus on audio and cameras, made up about 70 percent of the market. Meta held roughly 69 percent of all shipments, and more brands, including Samsung, Xreal and Snap, are launching products.
What they can do
- Hands-free photos and video from your point of view.
- Calls, music and podcasts through open-ear speakers.
- Ask an AI assistant about what you are looking at: "What plant is this?" or "Translate this sign".
- Displays on some newer models show messages, directions or captions in a corner of your view.
- Accessibility: describing surroundings for people with low vision, or live captions for people who are hard of hearing.
The privacy questions
A camera on someone's face is much less obvious than a phone held up in front of them. IDC itself lists privacy, consent and AI data collection as growing concerns. Questions include:
- Do the people around you know they are being recorded? Most glasses have a small light that shows when the camera is on, but it is easy to miss.
- Where do the photos, video and voice requests go, and are they used to train AI?
- Are they allowed in your workplace, school, gym changing room or a friend's home?
Some venues and employers now ban camera glasses in certain areas, much as they restrict phone cameras.
Good etiquette if you wear them
- Tell people when you are recording, and stop if they object.
- Take them off or switch them off in private places such as toilets, changing rooms and medical settings.
- Do not record children who are not your own.
- Check the privacy settings for how your photos and voice requests are stored and used. See AI and your privacy.
Tip: If you see a small white light on someone's glasses, they are probably recording. It is fine to ask them to stop.
What comes next
Expect lighter glasses, better displays and closer links to AI assistants that can act for you. See AI assistants that act for you. The technology is useful; the social rules for using it are still being worked out.
Glasses as a safety tool, and a target
Hands-free cameras can help in genuine ways: recording a cycling journey, filming a recipe, or capturing a moment with a child without holding up a phone. They can also be lost or stolen like any gadget. Protect the companion app with a strong password and 2-step verification, keep the glasses' software updated, and remove them from your account if you sell them. Treat the photos and videos they capture as you would those on your phone, with the same backup and privacy settings.
Key takeaways
- Smart glasses combine cameras, open-ear audio and AI assistants in normal-looking frames.
- IDC figures show strong growth, mostly in glasses without a display, led by Meta.
- Useful for hands-free photos, calls, translation and accessibility.
- Respect consent: tell people when recording and switch them off in private places.
Sources and further reading
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