Meta has quietly announced that the Conversation Focus feature on its smart glasses will soon be limited to three hours of use per month unless users pay a $19.99 monthly subscription for Meta One Premium. The company describes this as a 'rate limit' for certain AI features, with premium subscribers receiving 15 hours per month. However, the move has sparked criticism because Conversation Focus operates entirely on-device, using the glasses' built-in chips and not relying on Meta's servers.
Feature Runs Locally, Not on Servers
Conversation Focus, introduced last year, uses the glasses' open-ear speakers, beamforming technology, and real-time spatial processing to amplify the voice of the person being spoken to in noisy environments. It does not require an internet connection; testing confirmed that the feature works with the phone in Airplane Mode. This raises questions about why Meta would impose a rate limit on a locally processed function.
Financial Pressures Behind the Move
Meta is under financial strain from its AI investments, having recently laid off approximately 10 percent of its workforce—around 8,000 employees—to offset costs. The company also reduced the price of three AI glasses models by $80 by removing the Ray-Ban branding. The subscription may be another strategy to generate revenue, but it risks alienating users.
Meta's Explanation and Concerns
Meta spokesperson Tyler Yee stated, 'Most people will use Conversation Focus without hitting the monthly limit. The subscription is for power users who want expanded access and additional benefits like premium device support.' He added that core AI features like voice assistant, live translation, and look and ask remain free. However, the word 'currently' suggests that more features could be placed behind the subscription in the future.
Implications for Users
The rate limit has been described as 'ridiculous' because it restricts a feature that doesn't consume server resources. Critics argue that Meta is undermining its smart glasses by introducing artificial limitations. The company did not respond to questions about whether other on-device features will be similarly restricted, but the announcement has raised concerns about the direction of Meta's hardware strategy.
