Two Harvard students have transformed Meta‘s (Nasdaq: META) Ray-Ban smart glasses into a device that can identify strangers and access their personal information, sparking serious privacy concerns. AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio’s project, dubbed I-XRAY, combines facial recognition technology with public databases to quickly compile details about individuals in view.
The students linked Meta’s Ray-Ban 2 smart glasses with the facial recognition engine PimEyes and various people-search databases. Using large language models (LLMs), their system can rapidly compile names, addresses, and phone numbers of people it sees. They detail the project in this Google document.
Nguyen and Ardayfio tested their creation in public spaces, demonstrating how easily it could identify strangers and access their information. However, they stress that their goal isn’t to encourage privacy violations, but to raise awareness about the potential misuse of such technology, Nguyen told 404 News, which first reported on the project.
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While tech giants like Meta and Google have been cautious about releasing similar technologies, other AI companies are exploring comparable concepts. Clearview AI, known for its facial recognition database, has shown interest in developing smart glasses with facial recognition capabilities.
The students’ project serves as a reminder of how quickly technology is advancing and the potential privacy implications. They’ve provided instructions for opting out of facial recognition and people-search databases, encouraging individuals to take steps to protect their online privacy.
Meta and PimEyes have downplayed concerns, saying that similar risks exist with regular photos and that their services don’t directly identify individuals. However, the ease with which personal information can be accessed using this technology remains a topic of discussion.
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