Meta’s latest AI glasses: fashion or super-intelligence?

印刷用画面を開く

Posted

Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. pitch / pɪtʃ / (v.) – to try to convince someone to do something or accept an idea, product, or plan
    Example:

    He pitched his idea for a new app to the investors.


  2. wearable / ˈwɛər ə bəl / (adj.) – describing technology or devices that can be worn on the body, usually to track or monitor something
    Example:

    Many people use wearable devices to monitor their steps and heart rate.


  3. position / pəˈzɪʃ ən / (v.) – to put something or someone in a particular place, position, or situation
    Example:

    The manager wants to position the new team members in roles that suit their skills.


  4. discreet / dɪˈskrit / (adj.) – careful not to attract attention
    Example:

    She was very discreet when talking about her friend’s secret.


  5. flick / flɪk / (n.) – a quick, light movement or touch
    Example:

    She gave the switch a flick, and the light turned on.


Article

Read the text below.

Meta has unveiled its latest AI-powered smart glasses at its annual developers’ conference in California. The device, created in partnership with Ray-Ban, is pitched as the next step in wearable technology, combining a high-resolution display with voice, camera and gesture controls. The launch is part of a trend that has seen major tech firms racing to position glasses as a platform for artificial intelligence, combining fashion and computing.


On stage at Meta’s Connect conference in Menlo Park, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the device as part of a wider pitch about how artificial intelligence could become seamlessly integrated into everyday tasks. The glasses combine a built-in display, microphones, speakers and cameras, while the accompanying Neural Band wrist device allows users to control functions with subtle hand movements.


Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, says, “Glasses are the ideal form factor for personal superintelligence because they let you stay present in the moment, while getting access to all of these AI capabilities that make you smarter, help you communicate better, improve your memory, improve your senses.”


The glasses feature a discreet in-lens display, allowing users to check messages, preview photos, get directions or view live translations without taking out a phone.


Ankit Brahmbhatt, Director of Product Management at Meta, says, “We feel very much that this is already going to make you much more heads up. And in the moment, with eye glasses, you actually have this sense of being able to engage.”


Each pair is bundled with the new Meta Neural Band, a wrist-worn device that uses electromyography to turn subtle muscle movements into digital commands. A small pinch of the fingers or a flick of the wrist can be used to scroll, select or even type, which removes the need to touch the glasses or use a smartphone. It also highlights accessibility, with potential benefits for people who have limited mobility or tremors.


The company says this is just one part of its vision for glasses as a new computing platform, which aims to keep users connected to AI while remaining present in the world around them.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Meta pitched its AI-powered smart glasses as the next step in wearable technology, combining a high-resolution display with voice, camera, and gesture controls. How necessary is this device for you? In what situations do you think you would need these? Discuss.
  • Meta’s new smart glasses combine AI features with fashion, but they may come at a high cost and raise privacy concerns. Would you pay a lot of money for AI glasses that help with daily life? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The glasses mix fashion (Ray-Ban style) with advanced computing. Do you think people are more likely to accept new technology if it looks stylish? How important is design compared to function? Discuss.
  • If smart glasses become common, do you think people will feel pressure to own them to “keep up” socially, the same way many people feel about smartphones? How do you feel about this kind of pressure? Discuss.