Despite the temptation to enter what might become a $40 billion market, Apple has reportedly decided to delay the introduction of its smart glasses until 2027. The company apparently wants to figure out a better balance between privacy and convenience.
If it gets that right, Apple might be able to bring to market glasses people can wear in public without making everyone around them wonder whether they, their children, their private conversations or even corporate data are being quietly recorded or filmed.
It's a sensible move. During the first internet gold rush, many argued that trading privacy for convenience would be more than justified by the benefits. Years later, that bargain looks a great deal less attractive than it did.
We've seen this story
After all, since then we've seen the likes of Cambridge Analytica and the evolution of digital state surveillance (and state-adjacent surveillance "businesses" such as NSO). We've also seen the dubious rise of data brokers, creepy "personalized" ads that seem to follow private conversations around, and all the other parasites that breed in the murk when privacy is diluted.
None of these things is good. More people than ever now seem to understand that wh
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