Apple is pushing back the launch of its first smart glasses to late 2027, aiming to address consumer privacy fears that have dogged competitors like Meta, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The device, now expected to be unveiled at WWDC in June 2027 and ship by the end of the year, will reportedly feature on-device processing and lack facial recognition capabilities.
The delay comes as Apple seeks to distance itself from the controversies surrounding Meta's smart glasses, often labeled "pervert glasses" for enabling covert recordings. Apple, which heavily markets privacy, plans to emphasize privacy-friendly features and avoid pitfalls that have drawn criticism.
Key reported features include processing all data on the device itself, which would reduce the risk of personal information being sent to the cloud. Apple also has no intention of using customer footage to train AI models, a practice that has raised privacy alarms elsewhere. Furthermore, the company is unlikely to follow Meta's reported use of human contractors to review user recordings.
These measures are meant to reassure users, but Apple must still convince the public that its camera-equipped wearable won't become a tool for non-consensual surveillance. The extra development time will also be used to refine the product and craft a compelling privacy message.
The report comes as Apple continues to navigate a regulatory and public landscape increasingly sensitive to data collection. Whether these features will be enough to prevent backlash remains to be seen, but they represent an early attempt to set a new standard for privacy in smart glasses.
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