Lorde criticized Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses during a concert, calling them 'not sexy' and expressing concerns about surveillance and authenticity.
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<img alt="" data-caption="Lorde performing at the 2026 Governors Ball. | Photo: Siegfried Anthony/Billboard via Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Siegfried Anthony/Billboard via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/gettyimages-2279420244.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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Lorde performing at the 2026 Governors Ball. | Photo: Siegfried Anthony/Billboard via Getty Images </figcaption>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lorde was performing at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid on Thursday and took some time during her set to <a href="https://stereogum.com/2504954/lorde-speaks-out-against-fucked-up-ai-glasses/news">speak out against AI glasses</a>. While she didn't specify any brands in particular, it's likely she was taking a shot at festival sponsor Ray-Ban, which has collaborated with Meta on a pair of AI smartglasses. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The comments were <a href="https://x.com/Lorde_fix/status/2075567105991409975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2075567105991409975%7Ctwgr%5Ec71b57c1ddf5c52f8aac6358167f15e590da1832%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fstereogum.com%2F2504954%2Florde-speaks-out-against-fucked-up-ai-glasses%2Fnews">captured in videos</a> shared to social media. After thanking the crowd for being there and taking part in "something real," she said that it was increasingly hard to know is and isn't real, before saying "You don't know if someone is wearing sunglasses or if they're wearing those fucked up fucking… Can I just say, for …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/964539/lorde-says-ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses-are-not-sexy">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Lorde says Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses are ‘not sexy’
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/964539/lorde-says-ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses-are-not-sexy](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/964539/lorde-says-ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses-are-not-sexy)
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Terrence O'Brien
is the Verge’s weekend editor\. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths\.
Lorde was performing at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid on Thursday and took some time during her set to[speak out against AI glasses](https://stereogum.com/2504954/lorde-speaks-out-against-fucked-up-ai-glasses/news)\. While she didn’t specify any brands in particular, it’s likely she was taking a shot at festival sponsor Ray\-Ban, which has collaborated with Meta on a pair of AI smartglasses\.
The comments were[captured in videos](https://x.com/Lorde_fix/status/2075567105991409975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2075567105991409975%7Ctwgr%5Ec71b57c1ddf5c52f8aac6358167f15e590da1832%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fstereogum.com%2F2504954%2Florde-speaks-out-against-fucked-up-ai-glasses%2Fnews)shared to social media\. After thanking the crowd for being there and taking part in “something real,” she said that it was increasingly hard to know is and isn’t real, before saying “You don’t know if someone is wearing sunglasses or if they’re wearing those fucked up fucking… Can I just say, for the record, fuck the glasses\. Don’t get the glasses\. Not sexy\.”
The comments come as Meta faces[renewed](https://www.theverge.com/column/961707/smart-glasses-ai-wearables-meta-surveillance-privacy)[scrutiny](https://www.theverge.com/column/881744/meta-smart-glasses-facial-recognition-rayban-privacy-wearables)over its smart glasses\. And, even in the face of that[backlash](https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/962514/meta-privacy-light-tampering-smart-glasses-update), it is still reportedly planning to launch a pair of “[super sensing](https://www.theverge.com/tech/963138/meta-smart-glasses-recording-super-sensing-ai)” glasses that are continuously recording\.
According to*Stereogum*, Lorde was followed on stage by Blackpink’s Jennie, who is a Ray\-Ban Meta AI ambassador and has been featured in advertising campaigns on[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXHjXdsiE6d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)and in a video screened between sets at Real Cool\.
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- Terrence O'Brien
Pop star Lorde publicly criticizes Meta's AI glasses during a festival performance, calling them 'not sexy' and raising privacy concerns. The article highlights ongoing debates about smart glasses privacy issues and Meta's market success despite backlash.
The article criticizes celebrities like Kylie Jenner for normalizing Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, arguing that their promotion of wearable recording devices raises serious privacy concerns about consent, children's safety, and constant surveillance.
Meta launches new Meta Glasses starting at $299, dropping Ray-Ban branding to achieve a lower price point, in three styles including a Kylie Jenner collaboration.
Meta announces a safety feature for its AI glasses that disables recording if the LED indicator is tampered with, but critics note the company's broader data collection practices contradict privacy concerns.
Italian startup Lorika launches Ontop, colorful clip-on frame covers for Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, aiming to add protection and a louder design aesthetic. The $35-$40 polycarbonate covers do not block cameras or speakers.