Meta used its Connect 2026 event to unveil a wave of new AI-powered hardware. The company introduced its personal AI assistant called Muse, which will ship across a growing lineup of smart glasses. By the end of 2026, Meta and its partners plan to offer over 100 styles of AI glasses spanning the Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Meta brands.
Among the highlights were camera-free AI glasses developed with EssilorLuxottica. Weighing just 43 grams, the glasses offer up to 12 hours of battery life, or up to 48 hours with the charging case. Pre-orders start on October 13, with prices beginning at $349. The new Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 adds an Aviator and Zena style equipped with a 12 MP camera and 3K video recording. Meta also debuted Meta VR Glasses, a lightweight headset promising an IMAX-grade cinema experience and full spatial computing.
Beyond hardware, the AI industry is grappling with deep disagreements about risk. Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as the Godfather of AI, publicly disagreed with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang over the severity of AI threats. Hinton warned that the danger is very real, while Huang has said an AI doomsday scenario is not a realistic concern. In a separate CNN interview with Anderson Cooper, Huang said he does not believe AI will surpass human intelligence and stressed that Nvidia is focused on both the risks and benefits of the technology.
Other prominent voices have taken a far more alarmist stance. Geraldo Rivera compared AI to the atom bomb during an appearance on Hannity, also raising concerns about facial recognition and the erosion of personal freedoms. He urged the United States to maintain a technological edge over China. Elon Musk, meanwhile, predicted that AI will exceed human performance in many fields by the end of 2027 or by 2028 at the latest.Concerns about safety extended to the international stage, where AI leaders from the Partnership on AI warned the UN Security Council that safeguards are falling behind the pace of development. Representatives from over 50 countries attended the meeting, and the group called for global rules to prevent misuse. The debate over control intensified as Chinese developers distributed powerful open-weight AI models worldwide, even as US companies OpenAI and Anthropic pushed for stricter safety measures. US President Donald Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping met to discuss these tensions, with the AI rivalry drawing comparisons to the Cold War space race.
On a more practical note, AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life. A survey by NIQ found that 51% of US consumers used at least one AI tool for shopping in the past month, with product recommendations and AI personal shopping assistants leading the way. In Estonia, AI adoption grew 1.4 times among households and 1.5 times among businesses in 2026, with the sharpest increase coming from people aged 65 to 74. Separately, scammers are now using AI to clone the voices of ordinary Americans, creating deepfakes that pose new threats to personal security.
Key Takeaways
- Meta launched camera-free AI glasses with EssilorLuxottica starting at $349, weighing 43 grams with up to 48 hours of battery life.
- Meta's personal AI assistant Muse will ship across all Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Meta AI glasses by end of 2026.
- Geoffrey Hinton publicly disputed Jensen Huang's view that an AI doomsday scenario is not a realistic threat.
- Elon Musk predicts AI will surpass human performance by late 2027 or 2028.
- Geraldo Rivera compared AI to the atom bomb and urged the US to stay ahead of China technologically.
- Partnership on AI leaders warned the UN Security Council that AI safety measures are falling behind development.
- Chinese developers are distributing open-weight AI models globally while OpenAI and Anthropic push for stronger safety controls.
- 51% of US consumers now use at least one AI tool for shopping, according to an NIQ survey.
- Estonia saw AI adoption among households rise 1.4 times and businesses 1.5 times in 2026.
- Scammers are using AI to clone the voices of everyday Americans, creating new personal security risks.
Meta reveals new AI glasses and VR at Connect 2026
At Meta Connect 2026, Meta showed off its improved personal AI agent called Muse. The company announced AI glasses from Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Meta, including its first audio-only glasses. By the end of 2026, there will be over 100 styles of AI glasses. Meta also debuted Meta VR Glasses, a lightweight device that offers an IMAX-grade cinema experience and full spatial computing.
Meta launches camera-free AI glasses starting at $349
Meta introduced camera-free AI glasses designed with its partner EssilorLuxottica. The glasses weigh only 43 grams and offer up to 12 hours of battery life, or up to 48 hours with the charging case. They come in 23 color and lens combinations and two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank. Pre-orders begin on October 13, and all Meta AI glasses will feature the personal AI assistant Muse.
EssilorLuxottica and Meta unveil new AI glasses at Connect
EssilorLuxottica and Meta announced a new line of audio AI glasses and the next generation of Ray-Ban Meta at Meta Connect. The new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses are camera-free and weigh as low as 43 grams. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 adds an Aviator and Zena style with a 12 MP camera and 3K video. By the end of 2026, the companies will offer over 100 styles of AI glasses, and Muse will come to all of them.
Godfather of AI disputes Nvidia CEO on AI doomsday risk
Geoffrey Hinton, known as the Godfather of AI, told CNN he disagrees with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about AI risks. Hinton said the danger of AI is very real and should be taken seriously. Huang had said that an AI doomsday scenario is not a realistic threat. Hinton has been warning about AI dangers for years.
Anderson Cooper asks Nvidia CEO about AI worries
CNN's Anderson Cooper interviewed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about concerns over AI's rapid progress. Huang said the company is worried about both the risks and the benefits of AI. When asked if AI will surpass human intelligence, Huang said he does not think that will happen. The talk shows the ongoing debate about responsible AI innovation.
Geraldo Rivera warns AI is the next atom bomb threat
Geraldo Rivera says artificial intelligence is the next major threat, comparing it to the atom bomb. He made the comments on the show Hannity. Rivera also warned about facial recognition and losing personal freedoms. He urged the U.S. to stay ahead of China in technology.
Scammers use AI to clone voices of everyday Americans
Fraudsters are using AI to clone the voices of ordinary Americans. They steal the sound, tone, and inflection of people's voices to create deepfakes. Most people may not even realize this is happening. The scam poses a new threat to personal security.
AI leaders warn UN about lack of safeguards
AI leaders from the Partnership on AI warned the UN Security Council that AI could outpace safety measures. Representatives from over 50 countries attended the meeting. The group called for global safeguards to prevent misuse of AI. They said AI can bring great benefits but also serious risks.
Elon Musk predicts AI will surpass humans by 2027 or 2028
Elon Musk predicted that AI will surpass humans in many fields by the end of 2027 or by 2028 at the latest. He said AI development is accelerating faster than some expected. Technology companies around the world are racing to build more powerful AI models. AI is being used more in areas like medicine, research, and education.
Estonians increasingly adopt AI and smart devices
Surveys by Statistics Estonia show AI use grew significantly in 2026 among both households and businesses. AI use among households rose 1.4 times and among businesses 1.5 times. The biggest growth was in the 65 to 74 age group. Smart TVs and smart watches remain the most popular connected devices.
China open AI models challenge US safety rules
Chinese developers are sharing powerful open-weight AI models worldwide. This happens even as US companies like OpenAI and Anthropic push for stronger safety controls. The spread of these models shows that keeping developers in charge of safety has limits. US and Chinese leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met to discuss these AI safety issues. Experts say restricting access in America will not stop bad actors from getting similar tools elsewhere.
US and China AI rivalry explained
AI was a major topic when US President Donald Trump met China's leader Xi Jinping. The rivalry between the two countries is compared to the Cold War space race. Technology leaders attended a state dinner honoring the meeting. Australia reported the first known case of a rogue AI agent hacking a government website. This event highlights why the AI race matters for the rest of the world.
Half of US consumers use AI shopping tools
A survey by NIQ found that 51% of US consumers used at least one AI tool to help them shop in the past month. Product recommendations were the most common use at 20%, followed by AI personal shopping assistants at 16%. Consumers use AI mostly to compare options and narrow choices. NIQ president Liz Buchanan said AI-assisted shopping has become mainstream. She noted the path to purchase is shifting from search-driven to AI-driven.
Sources
- Everything We Announced at Meta Connect 2026
- Meta introduces camera-free AI glasses
- EssilorLuxottica and Meta further advance AI glasses category with new products revealed at Meta Connect
- ‘Godfather of AI’ tells CNN he disputes Jensen Huang’s dismissal of AI doomsday scenario
- Anderson Cooper asks Nvidia CEO about tech CEOs’ being worried about AI
- Geraldo Rivera: Artificial intelligence threat is next 'atom bomb'
- InvestigateTV+: Fraudsters using AI cloning
- "We have a choice": AI leaders sound alarm at UN
- Elon Musk sets a predicted date for the dominance of artificial intelligence in various fields
- Estonians increasingly use artificial intelligence
- China’s open AI models are testing America’s approach to AI safety
- The AI Race: the US and China artificial intelligence rivalry explained
- 'It is now mainstream': 51% of US consumers use AI shopping tools
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