Smart Glasses' Success Hinges on Trust and Consent

Smart glasses are being touted as the next big thing in technology, but their success may depend more on building trust than showcasing advanced features. Meta, Apple, Samsung, Google, and OpenAI are all investing heavily in this new category, with product prices ranging from $200 to $500.

The key feature of smart glasses is also their biggest weakness: the always-on camera. In past technology cycles, companies competed by adding more capabilities, but this time around, the strongest competitive advantage may come from removing one. Apple is reportedly considering launching its N50 smart glasses without a camera or with a limited camera that cannot capture photos or videos.

One of the major concerns surrounding smart glasses is privacy. Online platforms have shown how unevenly they treat copyright and privacy breaches. A video containing copyrighted music can be removed within seconds, but footage recorded discreetly with smart glasses may remain online for days or even weeks.