HTC Launches Vive Eagle Smart Glasses With Privacy-First Focus
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The $499 wearable aims to distance itself from social media giants by encrypting local data and de-identifying AI interactions.
HTC has entered the smart glasses market with the Vive Eagle, a $499 device available in the US as of September, according to Wired. The wearable includes cameras for photos and video, speakers for calls and music, and an integrated AI agent capable of providing information such as recipes via image recognition.
Designed to avoid the privacy controversies associated with Meta, the Vive Eagle employs several security measures. Video footage is encrypted and stored locally on the device rather than being automatically uploaded to the cloud or a phone; users must manually import media via an app. To protect bystanders, the glasses feature a bright indicator light that disables recording if covered, and the device will stop recording if a person nearby asks it to do so.
Regarding AI, the Vive AI assistant utilizes Google's Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT. Wired reports that the system does not require a login, meaning users are "de-identified" to prevent services from retaining personal information, though this removes personalization features linked to emails or messages. Dan McDowell, HTC Vive's head of enterprise sales, told Wired that HTC does not train its own or any third-party AI models using information from the glasses, noting that as a non-social media company, there is no benefit to collecting user data.
Hardware specifications include 36 hours of standby time and 4.5 hours of continuous music playback. HTC also offers a $49 clip-on "Power Boost" battery pack. The glasses include a subscription to AI Plus, which is free for two years before costing users $2.50 per month.