Google's New Smart Glasses Prioritize Privacy

Google appears poised to launch its next generation of smart glasses, with early details emerging from a hidden companion app within an Android Studio preview build. These new glasses seem to incorporate features designed to enhance user experience and privacy, signaling a departure from previous iterations.

Key among the revelations is "conversation detection," a feature intended to silence notifications during active conversations by processing audio locally on the device. This approach aims to protect user privacy by ensuring no raw audio data is transmitted to Google or third-party services. Furthermore, a "displayless mode" is hinted at, allowing users to disable the visual display for an audio-only experience, which could reduce distractions and improve battery longevity.

Additional functionalities echo those found in competing devices, such as the ability to record 3K video. However, a crucial privacy measure dictates that video recording will be disabled if the visible privacy indicator light is obstructed. These features suggest Google has learned valuable lessons regarding privacy and user-centric design since the initial Google Glass era.