What’s new: Google’s upcoming Android XR smart glasses, built with Samsung, will ship with built-in privacy protections. When the glasses send an image to Gemini for an AI query, faces of bystanders and the wearer are automatically blurred. Real-time facial recognition is not allowed, third-party apps can’t live-stream from the camera, and a physical switch lets wearers turn the glasses off completely. Preorders start at $395, with shipping set for December 10, 2026.
Who’s affected
Buyers get privacy safeguards by default, and the people around them get some protection from being identified. App developers will have to work within limits on camera access, including no live streaming and no face recognition.
What to do
- If you’re thinking about preordering, these rules mean the glasses can’t be used to identify strangers.
- Developers building for Android XR should review Google’s camera and privacy guidelines before planning features that rely on the camera.
