Meta Limits Smart Glasses Feature
Meta caps Conversation Focus on smart glasses at 3 hours/month, offering 15 hours with a $19.99/month Meta One subscription
Key points
- Meta, the technology company, has introduced a monthly usage limit for its Conversation Focus feature on smart glasses.
- The feature, which runs entirely on the glasses without requiring an internet connection, is limited to 3 hours of usage per month for non-subscribers.
- A $19.99/month Meta One subscription increases the usage limit to 15 hours per month and includes premium device support.
- Meta states that the subscription supports ongoing development and improvement of the AI-powered Conversation Focus feature.
- The move has raised concerns about the precedent for placing on-device features behind a paywall.
- The Meta One subscription currently only includes expanded access to Conversation Focus and premium device support.
Meta has introduced a new limitation on its Conversation Focus feature for smart glasses, capping usage at 3 hours per month for non-subscribers. The feature, which amplifies voices of people you're facing to facilitate communication in noisy environments, can be used for up to 15 hours per month with a $19.99/month Meta One subscription. This move has sparked discussion about the implications of placing on-device features behind a paywall.
The Meta One subscription was announced in May as part of a broader subscription rollout, aiming to offer better features for users. However, it seems to make certain features less accessible to those who do not subscribe.
Meta has clarified that the Conversation Focus feature is powered by AI that the company is continuously developing and improving, and the subscription supports this ongoing work. The company has also stated that the vast majority of users will not hit the monthly limit, and that the subscription will include additional features over time.
Sources
The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.