Victoria Song is a senior reviewer for The Verge and author of Optimizer, a weekly newsletter that cuts through the hype to uncover what tech actually makes your life better. She specializes in emerging technologies in wearables, health and fitness, and XR. Before coming to The Verge, she’s been reporting on consumer tech for Gizmodo and PC Magazine. In another life, she worked on the business and breaking news desk for The Yomiuri Shimbun. When not nerding out, she can be found swearing while running or on the couch binging the latest K-dramas. You can reach her on Signal: @vicmsong.14
Kennedy’s remarks come from congressional hearings today. He claims AI, while “very dangerous” has the opportunity to “develop new drugs and personalized medicine for every citizen.” Please, a moment of silence for my sanity.
Unsurprising, given Oura’s discreet form-factor and its long-term relationships with several professional sports organizations. You likely won’t see it on the pitch during this year’s World Cup (FIFA is a no-go for wearables during play). That said, it is another example of how professional athletes are integrating wearables into their training.
Cook once said Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind would be ‘about health.’ If true, he’ll get much of the credit.
According to journalist Ken Klippenstein, ICE may be working on developing smart glasses capable of facial and biometric recognition. Klippenstein claims the agency wouldn’t just be using this tech on illegal aliens, but all Americans, especially protesters. College students proved this tech is already doable, but thanks, I hate it.
[https://www.kenklippenstein.com]
Multiple CEOs have insisted it’s not ‘just a fitness tech company,’ but maybe it should be.
In a podcast with David Senra, Spiegel says, “I think Meta needed to partner with [Essilor]Luxottica because the Meta brand, I think, is not something people want anywhere near their face.” He’s not wrong. I hear that all the time from y’all in my smart glasses coverage — and the facial recognition controversy hasn’t helped.
The civil rights organization and 75 other groups published an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to “immediately halt and publicly disavow” plans for a reported facial recognition feature on its Ray-Ban smart glasses. It’s unsurprising that privacy advocates are wary, especially since documents show Meta originally planned to launch the feature during public unrest.
[ACLU of Massachusetts]
Fawn Friends is a befuddling mix of AI companionship, fantasy lore, and social robots. AI Burt Reynolds is also involved.
Whoop and Oura are health tech trendsetters. But hurtling toward innovation can have some unintended ripple effects.
