Lorde criticizes AI glasses as Meta’s smart-glasses scrutiny grows
Lorde spoke out against AI glasses during a performance at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid, saying it was harder to know what is and isn’t real and telling the crowd, “fuck the glasses. Don’t get the glasses. Not sexy.” The Verge says she did not name a brand, but the comments likely targeted fest…
Lorde spoke out against AI glasses during a performance at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid, saying it was harder to know what is and isn’t real and telling the crowd, “fuck the glasses. Don’t get the glasses. Not sexy.” The Verge says she did not name a brand, but the comments likely targeted festival sponsor Ray-Ban and its Meta collaboration, which has put smart glasses into the spotlight [1]. Meta is also reported to be working on more advanced “super sensing” glasses that would continuously record, even as backlash continues [1].
Why it matters: The comments are another sign that AI wearables are facing a cultural and privacy backlash, not just a product debate [1]. If public figures and festivalgoers increasingly associate smart glasses with surveillance or inauthenticity, that could complicate Meta’s efforts to normalize them and expand the category [1].
Key insights: The criticism came in a live, recorded setting, which amplifies the social message beyond the concert itself [1]. | The Verge connects the remarks to renewed scrutiny of Meta’s smart glasses and reports of a more intrusive future product direction [1]. | The story also highlights celebrity marketing risk: Blackpink’s Jennie is described as a Ray-Ban Meta AI ambassador and appeared in related festival advertising [1].
Cheatsheet facts: What changed: A high-profile artist publicly disparaged AI glasses during a live performance, amid renewed scrutiny of Meta’s smart-glasses push [1]. | Why now: The backlash is colliding with reports that Meta still wants to launch more advanced, always-recording glasses [1]. | Watch next: Whether Meta responds publicly, and whether mentions of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses continue to rise in cultural or privacy criticism [1].
Lorde spoke out against AI glasses during a performance at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid, saying it was harder to know what is and isn’t real and telling the crowd, “fuck the glasses. Don’t get the glasses. Not sexy.” The Verge says she did not name a brand, but the comments likely targeted festival sponsor Ray-Ban and its Meta collaboration, which has put smart glasses into the spotlight [1]. Meta is also reported to be working on more advanced “super sensing” glasses that would continuously record, even as backlash continues [1].
Why it matters: The comments are another sign that AI wearables are facing a cultural and privacy backlash, not just a product debate [1]. If public figures and festivalgoers increasingly associate smart glasses with surveillance or inauthenticity, that could complicate Meta’s efforts to normalize them and expand the category [1].
Key insights: The criticism came in a live, recorded setting, which amplifies the social message beyond the concert itself [1]. | The Verge connects the remarks to renewed scrutiny of Meta’s smart glasses and reports of a more intrusive future product direction [1]. | The story also highlights celebrity marketing risk: Blackpink’s Jennie is described as a Ray-Ban Meta AI ambassador and appeared in related festival advertising [1].
Cheatsheet facts: What changed: A high-profile artist publicly disparaged AI glasses during a live performance, amid renewed scrutiny of Meta’s smart-glasses push [1]. | Why now: The backlash is colliding with reports that Meta still wants to launch more advanced, always-recording glasses [1]. | Watch next: Whether Meta responds publicly, and whether mentions of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses continue to rise in cultural or privacy criticism [1].