NEW YORK — The individual responsible for driving a vehicle into a crowd in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, resulting in the deaths of 14 people, had previously surveyed the French Quarter and recorded footage using his Meta smart glasses, as indicated by the FBI.
On October 31, Shamsud-Din Jabbar utilized the glasses while biking through the French Quarter, meticulously planning the attack, according to Lyonel Myrthil, an FBI special agent leading the New Orleans division. During the attack itself, Jabbar had the glasses on, which have streaming capabilities, but he chose not to turn them on.
A representative from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, refrained from providing any comment on the incident.
Meta glasses, produced in collaboration with Ray-Ban, feature frames equipped with a built-in camera, speakers, and voice-activated artificial intelligence. Users can operate the device through vocal commands, buttons, or simple gestures. To engage in certain activities, such as listening to music or using the Meta AI assistant, the glasses must connect to a smartphone or the internet.
Unlike previous endeavors in augmented-reality technology that integrated displays within the lenses, Meta has not included this in their current model. However, they have announced ambitions to create glasses that will deliver a fully holographic user experience.
Among the glasses’ notable features is the ability to capture photos and videos via the integrated camera, which can then be shared directly on Instagram or Facebook. The device also supports live streaming, but only through platforms owned by Meta.
Furthermore, users can make audio and video calls, send messages, or enjoy music while wearing the glasses. The built-in camera also allows the AI assistant to perceive the user’s environment, facilitating real-time translations of written text, which can either be spoken aloud or displayed on a linked app. Additionally, the glasses primarily offer a hands-free experience, enabling users to communicate with their device, which then responds accordingly.
However, the glasses have their limitations. They currently do not support intricate tasks that other digital assistants might handle, such as making restaurant reservations or providing turn-by-turn navigation assistance while traveling. The absence of a display in the lenses means that there is no viewfinder available for capturing shots or video effectively.
Moreover, the glasses are equipped with visual indicators to inform bystanders when video or photo capturing is in process, including an LED privacy signal that remains illuminated whenever the camera is in use. According to Meta, there is no option to deactivate this light for more discreet operation.
