'This is terrible' Meta limits access to major AI smart glasses feature behind paywall
Meta has quietly rolled out a subscription requirement for one of its popular smart glasses features.
These Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered eyewear are meant to blend style with functionality. They allow you to capture photos and videos completely hands-free, listen to music, take phone calls, and access information on the go. They could be an especially great item to have if you enjoy content creation.
With built-in voice activation, these glasses can handle real-time translations, object recognition, and contextual assistance — essentially giving you a lightweight wearable AI assistant.
But now Meta is locking a feature built into their glasses behind a paywall.
The tech giant now wants $19.99 (about £15) per month from anyone who fancies using Conversation Focus beyond a pretty tight limit. This clever feature uses the glasses' microphones to amplify voices, making it easier to hear whoever you're chatting with in noisy spots.
The smart specs start at £224, and the additional charge would set you back £180 annually.
Without paying up, you'll only get three hours each month, which could be used up very quickly if you take a lot of calls. Subscribers will get 15 hours, but it's capped beyond that.
Dubbed Meta One, the subscription is specifically meant for Meta AI users. If you're not familiar, Meta AI is a free artificial intelligence (AI) assistant similar to ChatGPT and Gemini.
It can answer questions, write text, brainstorm ideas, and generate images from simple prompts, and can either be accessed as a standalone app or can be found built into Meta-owned platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
Alongside Conversation Focus, you'd be getting expanded AI usage — a larger monthly allowance for generating images, videos, and editing.
Unfortunately, both Meta One and Conversation Focus aren't available in the UK quite yet. There has been no confirmed date for when it will arrive either.
The change has already upset many users who own the specs. One wrote on Reddit: "This is terrible. I was really looking forward to using the conversation focus feature and it hasn't even reached the UK yet and they're now going to charge for it? I love the glasses but paywalling features will render them redundant."
However, the tech giant said in its online Help Centre: " There is no subscription required to use AI glasses, and you'll continue to have access to AI glasses features without a Meta One subscription."
Apple offers a strikingly similar feature on its AirPods Pro 2 and 3, and it doesn't cost a penny extra.
The feature's called Conversation Boost, and it does essentially the same job – making the person talking in front of you easier to hear. It's completely free to use, no subscription needed, no monthly limits to worry about.
However, it's not uncommon for tech firms to charge a subscription to access premium or expanded features on their wearables.
For example, many of Oura's smart ring features are only accessible behind a monthly app subscription. Its subscription cost of £9.99 per month will give you access to blood oxygen sensing, temperature monitoring, women's health insights, and more.