Two Harvard students, AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio, have demonstrated a disturbing application of smart glasses and facial recognition technology in their project called I-XRAY. This demo highlights how the widely available Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can livestream video to Instagram and, in conjunction with AI, identify individuals in real time.
A computer program processes the livestream, analyzes facial features, and matches them against public databases to retrieve personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and even relatives’ details. The students showcased this unsettling capability by identifying classmates and conversing with strangers on public transit as if they were familiar, leveraging the data obtained through this technology.
The I-XRAY system combines existing technologies, notably using PimEyes, a face search engine known for its accuracy. This project raises critical concerns about privacy, especially since similar facial recognition technologies have been employed by companies like Clearview AI to assist law enforcement. However, Nguyen and Ardayfio’s innovation lies in integrating this technology into a consumer product that appears inconspicuous, making it easier for individuals to record and analyze without detection.
In their project documentation, the students emphasize that their intention is not to promote misuse but to create awareness about the capabilities of current technology, suggesting that such advanced applications are already feasible. They note that the use of large language models (LLMs) makes the system more efficient, automatically linking names and images from extensive data pools.
The rise of smart glasses has reignited concerns about privacy, reminiscent of the backlash faced by Google Glass, which failed partly due to apprehensions about being recorded without consent. In recent years, society has grown more accustomed to being filmed due to the prevalence of smartphones and social media platforms like TikTok. However, the discreet design of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses complicates the situation, as they look like ordinary sunglasses and can easily go unnoticed.
While these glasses include a privacy light that activates when recording, it can be difficult to detect in bright conditions, making it challenging for the public to realize when they are being filmed. Despite Meta’s encouragement for responsible use and respect for personal boundaries, the reality is that many may ignore these guidelines.
To mitigate risks, Nguyen and Ardayfio suggest methods for individuals to protect their privacy, including opting out of people-search databases. However, they acknowledge the difficulty of completely erasing one’s online presence, as it is nearly impossible to remove all traces of personal information from the internet.
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