Meta is reportedly preparing to introduce a facial recognition feature for its Ray-Ban smart glasses
Meta is reportedly developing a facial recognition feature for its smart glasses range, currently internally referred to as ‘Name Tag’.
According to The New York Times, the proposed feature would allow wearers to identify people in front of them and receive information about them via Meta’s AI assistant.
Internal discussions about releasing the feature date back to early last year, and an internal document reviewed by the publication suggests Meta considered debuting Name Tag at a conference for the blind.
Afterwards, the company planned to expand it more broadly—plans that ultimately did not materialise. The same memo reportedly acknowledged the risk of backlash against civil liberties and privacy.
When and not if?
The move would mark a notable shift for Meta. In 2021, the company shut down its facial recognition system used for tagging people in photos on Facebook. Facial recognition had also reportedly been explored for earlier versions of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, but was held back due to technical and ethical challenges.
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Meta is still said to be weighing who would be identifiable through Name Tag, too.
Options under consideration reportedly include recognising people connected to a user on Meta platforms, or individuals with public profiles. The feature is not expected to function as a universal ‘search anyone’ tool.
In a statement to The New York Times, Meta said it is continuing to explore options. The company would take a “thoughtful approach” before rolling out any such capability.
The report lands amid intensifying competition in the smart glasses space. Apple is widely reported to be developing its own AI-powered smart glasses, while Samsung Galaxy Glasses and Google’s Android XR glasses are slated to launch later this year.
If Name Tag moves beyond internal testing, it could give Meta an edge over Gen 1 options—particularly given that its Gen 2 options are already flooding the market from partners Ray-Ban and Oakley. Still, we’ll have to wait and see when the company decides the time is right to launch the feature.
