What's going on with Meta's smart glasses? | The Global Story

BBC News explains why Meta and other big tech firms are investing heavily in smart glasses, who the product is for, and why the devices have drawn criticism. The video follows the company's product launch, where Mark Zuckerberg described the glasses as giving wearers "new superpowers". BBC North America technology correspondent Lily Jamali joins the programme to explain how the glasses work, share her experience using them, and discuss Meta's privacy policy. The video also touches on the glasses' nickname "pervert glasses", given by critics after they were used to film women without their knowledge.

• Why Meta and other big tech firms are investing in smart glasses
• Criticism over privacy and the 'pervert glasses' nickname
• How the glasses work and a correspondent's hands-on experience
• Comparisons with Google Glass and the Metaverse

At a recent Meta product launch, Mark Zuckerberg promised that the company’s smart glasses would give wearers “new superpowers”, but what are they? Amid criticisms of its privacy and child protection policies, Meta is betting big on smart glasses as a way to restyle the company’s image, but they too have caused controversy – dubbed by critics ‘pervert glasses’ because they have been used to film women without their knowledge. So why are Meta and other big tech firms investing billions in this tech? Who is it for? Lily Jamali, the BBC’s North America technology correspondent, joins us to explain. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news Timecodes: 0:00 Why have tech companies invested so much money in smart glasses? 1:12 Introduction to Lily Jamali 1:47 Why have Meta glasses picked up the nickname 'pervert glasses'? 4:22 How do these smart glasses work? 5:49 What is Lily's experience in using them? 9:21 What is Meta's policy on privacy? 13:10 What was the level of excitement in the room at Meta Connect 2026? 15:27 Who are the customers of Meta's smart glasses? 18:17 Will Google glass re-emerge? 21:18 How will this compare to the Metaverse? 23:20 What makes tech companies think the public are ready for smart glasses? Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #BBCNews