Lorde criticizes AI smart glasses as not sexy during performance at Ray-Ban sponsored festival

1. Lorde’s Public Criticism

During a performance at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid in July 2026, singer Lorde expressed strong disapproval of AI-integrated smart glasses. Addressing the audience, she questioned the authenticity of modern interactions, stating that it is becoming difficult to distinguish between standard sunglasses and AI-equipped eyewear. She explicitly discouraged the use of the technology, labeling it "not sexy."

2. Context of the Controversy

Lorde’s comments occurred at a festival sponsored by Ray-Ban, a company that partners with Meta to produce smart glasses. The singer performed shortly before Jennie, an ambassador for the Ray-Ban Meta line. While Meta has marketed these devices through high-profile figures like Kylie Jenner, the product line has faced significant scrutiny. Critics and security experts have raised concerns regarding privacy, with the company currently facing multiple lawsuits and investigations related to data handling and the use of recorded footage to train AI models.

3. Market Performance and Privacy Concerns

Despite ongoing privacy controversies and allegations that contract workers were tasked with reviewing sensitive footage captured by the devices, the product has seen substantial commercial success. EssilorLuxottica, the manufacturer of Ray-Ban, reported sales of over 7 million units in 2025, a significant increase from the 2 million units sold across 2023 and 2024 combined. In response to the growing market, Meta has continued to expand its lineup of smart glasses, even as public debate persists over the potential for the technology to be used for harassment or privacy violations.