More from the OpEd ...

... Several trends are now converging that threaten to pit tech companies against the general public.

Miniaturization has finally enabled companies to build AI glasses that look and function like normal glasses, but with microphones and cameras. People are increasingly talking to AI, rather than typing. And multimodal input, especially video, is on the rise.

Put all of these trends together and you get a nascent industry pushing toward all-day, everyday AI glasses with cameras -- and a worried public already pushing back at the idea.

Let's look at how we got here.

Meta started it with a surprise hit: its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which later gained multimodal AI capability. Its Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses add one in-lens screen " but both versions of the glasses have cameras. (The company is working on a third generation that will probably ship next year.)

Google provides the AI and software platform through Android XR and Gemini, partnering with hardware makers to put its AI on other companies' glasses. At Google I/O last month, Google unveiled frames from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker running Android XR with Gemini AI; they're scheduled to launch this fall. Google is working on two types of AI glasses, one with screens and one that is audio-focused. Both types have cameras, though.

Samsung is working to launch AI-powered smart glasses, too, code-named "Jinju." The company offered up details at Google I/O alongside Google. The glasses feature a 12-megapixel camera with autofocus; run on Android XR with Gemini AI; are co-designed with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker; and are slated to launch in July at the Samsung Unpacked event.

(As with Meta and Google, Samsung is working on AI glasses with and without screens, but both of its models have cameras.) ...