What happened
Harvard student, AnhPhu Nguyen, has turned $379 Meta Ray-Ban 2 smart glasses into a real-time privacy nightmare.
Using the glasses’ livestreaming feature, Nguyen connects them to a computer running AI-powered facial recognition software that identifies people on the street in an instant.
Within seconds, his system scours the internet, pulling up personal details like names, addresses, phone numbers, and even social security numbers from public databases and online sources. The results are sent directly to his phone, creating a real-life version of Cyberpunk 2077 where anyone can become a walking dossier.
Nguyen insists he’s doing this to raise awareness about the dangers of unchecked AI and facial recognition technology.
He’s even shared tips on how to remove your personal data from some of the databases he uses. But the ease with which he can extract and compile sensitive information, using nothing more than off-the-shelf tech and publicly available software, paints a disturbing picture of what could lie ahead.
Why it matters
This demonstration underscores a broader issue: as AI becomes more advanced, it opens the door to severe privacy violations, making it easier for bad actors to exploit personal data. Without stronger regulations and safeguards, we could be facing a future where real-time surveillance and data harvesting become frighteningly routine.