Meta’s next hardware project could be a headset with AI-inspired cameras

It’s no secret that Meta is eager to prove itself as an AI company, and it could be eyeing a new hardware project to help it get there. The company is in the early stages of “exploring” AI headset projects, according to a in The information.

The company is reportedly calling it “Camerabuds” because the earbuds or headphones (the company is considering both designs) will have two outward-facing cameras that will be able to detect the user’s surroundings and power AI functions in real-time. In this way, it sounds like what the company has done with the multimodal AI features in its .

So far, it’s unclear whether such a project will actually move forward, and Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly “seen several possible designs for the device,” but so far isn’t “satisfied” with any. Internally, there are also engineering issues, such as battery life and heat issues, as well as a myriad of privacy concerns that come with camera-enabled portable devices. People with long hair could also pose a potential challenge as their locks would block the view of the cameras.

Like The information points out, Meta has a somewhat mixed track record when it comes to hardware projects. It killed off its range of smart speakers called Portal and scrapped the long-rumoured camera support. But the latest version of Ray-Ban’s smart glasses, which feature Meta AI, were more. The company didn’t disclose how many pairs were sold, but Zuckerberg said there was “high demand” and that the glasses enjoyed better and more sustained participation than the first-generation shades.

Putting Meta AI in another piece of hardware would also be in line with the company’s ambitions with other leading AI firms. While AI-specific hardware like Rabbit’s R1 and Humane’s AI Pin have so far been unimpressive, Meta is likely hoping that putting its latest AI features into a device people are already used to wearing, like a headset, will be easier to sell.