NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The FBI revealed that the individual responsible for the tragic incident on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, where a truck was driven into a crowd resulting in the loss of 14 lives, had conducted reconnaissance in the French Quarter and documented his activities using Meta smart glasses.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator, was reported to have captured video footage with his Meta smart glasses while cycling through the French Quarter on October 31, meticulously planning his attack, according to statements provided by Lyonel Myrthil, the FBI special agent overseeing the New Orleans field office. Although Jabbar had the glasses on during the assault, he did not engage the livestreaming function.
A representative for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, declined to provide any comments on the matter.
Meta glasses, developed in collaboration with Ray-Ban, are equipped with a built-in camera, speakers, and artificial intelligence features that can be managed through voice commands, buttons, and simple gestures. Certain functions, such as listening to music or utilizing Meta’s AI assistant, necessitate the device to either be connected to a smartphone or have internet access.
Unlike previous industry efforts to create augmented-reality smart glasses with integrated displays, the current iteration of Meta glasses lacks a built-in lens display. Nonetheless, Meta has disclosed plans to introduce a model that will offer users a comprehensive holographic experience.
A prominent feature of the glasses is their ability to capture images and videos through the embedded camera, enabling users to upload the content to platforms like Instagram or Facebook. While livestreaming is feasible, it is restricted to Meta’s compatible social media platforms. Users can also leverage the glasses to initiate audio and video calls, send messages, or enjoy music playback.
The camera’s capabilities extend to Meta’s AI assistant, which can analyze the visual input to translate text into various languages, relay information audibly, or display it on a linked app. Furthermore, the assistant can respond to basic inquiries, such as identifying nearby landmarks based on the user’s location. The glasses offer a predominantly hands-free interaction, allowing users to communicate with the device verbally, receiving responses in kind.
Conversely, the current glasses model lacks the capacity to execute intricate tasks like making restaurant reservations or providing navigational guidance while in motion, functions commonly associated with digital assistants. Moreover, the absence of a display within the lens precludes a viewfinder for framing photographs or videos.
To address privacy concerns, the system incorporates visual indicators that signal when the camera is in operation, serving as a warning to bystanders. The LED privacy indicator remains illuminated during camera usage, with Meta asserting that users cannot deactivate this feature to maintain discretion during their actions.
