Key facts
- Singer Lorde called AI-enabled smart glasses 'not sexy' during a performance at Madrid's Mad Cool Festival.
- She explicitly told the audience to 'fuck the glasses' and 'Don't get the glasses.'
- Ray-Ban, which sponsored the festival, has been promoting its smart glasses.
- Meta's AI glasses, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban, have drawn criticism from privacy advocates.
- Lorde has previously expressed concerns about excessive screen time and disconnecting from technology.
During a performance at Madrid's Mad Cool Festival, singer-songwriter Lorde voiced strong disapproval of AI-enabled smart glasses, telling the audience, 'Can I just say, for the record, fuck the glasses. Don't get the glasses. Not sexy.' Her remarks come at a time when companies like Meta are pushing AI wearables, with Meta's partnership with Ray-Ban leading to the development of smart glasses that can answer questions, play audio, and capture photos and videos.
These AI glasses, priced at $299, have faced significant backlash from privacy advocates concerned about bystanders being recorded without their knowledge. Despite these concerns, EssilorLuxottica reported selling over 7 million AI glasses across its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta lines last year. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently emphasized the importance of integrating technology into fashionable eyewear to achieve mainstream adoption. Lorde's assessment of the glasses as 'not sexy' is particularly notable given her own fashion credibility, including multiple Met Gala appearances and a Vogue cover.
The singer's comments also align with her past reflections on growing up online and the desire to disconnect. She has previously spoken about her alarm at the amount of time spent looking at her phone screen, reflecting a broader theme in her music about the impact of the internet on individuals.