Meta is reportedly planning to add facial recognition technology to its smart glasses, allowing wearers to identify people and access information about them using AI. The move raises significant privacy and ethical concerns, especially following Meta’s past controversies with facial recognition technology. With the smart glasses market becoming more competitive, Meta aims to gain an edge over rivals, despite considering options like recognizing only connected individuals or displaying information from public Instagram accounts. The company’s decision to push ahead with facial recognition during a politically turbulent time in the US further amplifies the potential impact and implications of this technology.

Russian government’s ban on WhatsApp forces users to switch to unencrypted state-owned app, compromising privacy and security. Meta warns of potential risks as popular communication platform is removed from online directory, following similar actions against Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram.

Tech journalists Amanda Silberling, Andrew Cunningham, Stevie Bonifield, Adrienne So, Lawrence Bonk, Valentina Palladino, and Amy Skorheim share their picks for the best MacBook accessories for 2026, including webcam accessories, docking stations, charging gear, keyboards, mice, and stands. These accessories are designed to enhance the user experience and productivity of MacBook users without adding unnecessary bulk or friction.

Anthropic is stepping up its free tier features for Claude, enabling users to create files, connect to external services, and use skills. This move appears to coincide with OpenAI’s plan to introduce ads into ChatGPT, positioning Claude as an ad-free alternative in the growing AI chatbot market.