The development of a smart glass project capable of identifying and collecting personal information in real-time has raised significant privacy concerns. AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio, two Harvard University students, have created a smart glasses product called I-XRAY, which can recognize faces and gather personal information from strangers on the street. This technology, developed using Meta smart glasses originally intended for entertainment and image recording, has sparked deep concerns about privacy in the age of advancing technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
The I-XRAY system uses facial recognition technology to connect to the user’s phone and display personal information, including names, addresses, and phone numbers, of individuals whose faces are detected through the glasses. This capability has raised worries about privacy invasion, as it allows anyone wearing the glasses to access strangers’ personal information easily.
The project utilizes various technologies available on the market, including PimEyes for facial recognition and data sources from information brokers, which collect and sell personal data from diverse sources. Additionally, large language models (LLM) infer more personal information from internet content, enhancing the accuracy of information retrieved from just one photo.
While the creators have chosen not to publish the source code of the smart glasses system to prevent potential abuse, concerns about privacy invasion persist. The existence of I-XRAY has ignited debates about the future of facial recognition technology and the security of personal information. While some argue that this technology can be utilized for security or commercial purposes, many are worried about its potential misuse in nefarious activities. This highlights the need for increased measures to protect privacy in the digital age, especially as smart devices and artificial intelligence become more prevalent in everyday life.