Meta lets smart glasses users opt out of visual data use for AI training

Meta announced on September 24 that it will let users opt out of having visual data captured by its smart glasses used for AI model training. For those who opt out, the images will no longer be shown to third-party contractors in other countries.

Meta said that once a user opts out, visual data from requests such as translating a menu with the glasses will be used only to answer the immediate question. It won't be used for training or reviewed by humans for product improvement. Previously, Meta allowed images and videos captured while using Meta AI to be used for training, and sometimes sent them to overseas contractors for labeling.

The company has long stated that photos taken with the glasses' camera are not shared or used for training. However, interactions with Meta AI that rely on the camera — for example, asking "Hey Meta, what does this sign mean?" — have involved saving the images. Because those captures are not saved to the camera roll, many users may not realize they are being stored. A report earlier this year said some contractors had seen personal and intimate images while doing labeling work.

The new opt-out setting applies to visual data only. Audio interactions with Meta AI may still be used for training and review, though users can manually delete those recordings. Meta has also recently introduced a new line of Ray-Ban glasses without cameras.