Lorde expresses strong opposition to the use of AI smart glasses during her performance at Madrid’s Mad Cool Festival. She cautioned fans about the challenges of discerning reality in an increasingly tech-driven world and bluntly advised against adopting the technology, deeming it unappealing.
Kylie Jenner, on the other hand, faces criticism for her collaboration with Meta to create a line of wearable tech that includes a camera, hands-free recording features, and an AI assistant resembling her voice. The promotion of these AI-powered glasses has ignited controversy online, especially in light of reports of individuals secretly recording others, predominantly women, without consent using similar smart glasses.
Despite the backlash, Jenner continues to endorse her collection on social media, showcasing a new cat-eye design she co-created. While some fans celebrated the launch, others condemned the glasses as intrusive and criticized the campaign for being disconnected from reality.
Critics have drawn attention to Jenner’s past encounters with paparazzi, highlighting the disparity between her experiences and her decision to endorse wearable surveillance technology. The involvement of celebrities like Jenner in promoting such products has raised concerns among activists like Farrah Khan, who emphasize the need for accountability on the part of tech companies profiting from surveillance-related technologies.
In response to the uproar, Meta recently backtracked on a feature enabling users to generate AI content using public accounts, following objections from industry stakeholders like CAA and SAG-AFTRA. The company emphasized safety features in its AI glasses, including a visible capture LED to indicate when content is being recorded, aiming to address privacy concerns surrounding the use of such devices.