As privacy concerns intensify in the era of social media, Meta is reportedly exploring significant developments in its technology. A recent report indicates that the company is considering a new feature for its smart AI glasses that could enable users to recognize individuals nearby through facial recognition technology, essentially scanning their faces. Previously, Meta contemplated incorporating facial recognition into its smart glasses but ultimately abandoned the idea for the initial version.

Now, however, the company is actively working on wearables capable of identifying people by name. The imagined functionality would rely on sophisticated AI software that scans the faces of bystanders, drawing similarities to the Live AI feature found in the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses. Internally, Meta refers to this technology as “super sensing.”

In addition to the smart glasses, Meta is reportedly examining the possibility of integrating facial recognition technology into future AI-powered earbuds, dubbed “Camerabuds.” These earbuds would include front-facing cameras to detect surrounding environments, empowering users with real-time AI features.

It’s notable that while users of Meta’s glasses may choose to use the facial recognition feature, those in proximity would not have the option to opt-out. The company has been considering whether to disable the visual indicator that signals when the cameras are in use. Currently, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses activate an LED light during recording.

Furthermore, Meta updated its privacy policies earlier this year. The revised terms stipulate that its smart glasses will have artificial intelligence activated by default, and users must deactivate the “Hey Meta!” trigger to opt out. Additionally, users are now unable to refuse the storage and training of their voice recordings by Meta.