SMART Artificial Intelligence (AI) glasses are slowly making their way from science fiction into everyday life, says IT professional Mohammed Nafeez.
Mr Nafeez told this newspaper Fijians need to know the impacts of these gadgets before embracing the next tech wave.
“Around the world, they are being marketed as the next big thing, smart, stylish, hands free, and life-changing, he said.
“They promise to take photos, record videos, translate languages, answer questions, and even help you work smarter. Sounds flash, right?
“But before Fiji jumps headfirst into this shiny new tech, it’s worth asking one important question, are we really ready for it?”.
Mr Nafeez said that on the surface, these glasses sound like a dream.
“Imagine a technician in Suva fixing a machine while recording a “before and after” video without lifting a finger,” Mr Nafeez added.
“For people with mobility or vision challenges, audio prompts and voice guidance could be genuinely life-changing.
“In training environments, a supervisor could literally “see what you see” and guide you step by step. On paper, it all sounds brilliant.
“But as we all know in Fiji, not everything that shines is gold.
“The very thing that makes smart glasses powerful is the ability to constantly see, hear, record and is precisely what makes them dangerous.”
He said in a country built on community, trust, and face-to-face interaction, the idea that someone could be quietly recording you while pretending to listen is unsettling.
“Imagine sitting in a government office, a hospital waiting area, or even a village meeting, only to realise later that someone’s glasses may have been recording the whole time.
“Even if the person had no bad intention, the damage to trust is already done.
“Then comes the data issue and this is where things get serious. These glasses don’t just store information on the device. They connect to phones, apps, cloud servers, and overseas data centras.”
Mr Nafeez said if Fiji is to embrace this technology, “it must do so with eyes wide open”.
“It’s not about rejecting technology; we’ve always adapted and moved forward.
“It’s about understanding the cost of convenience. Clear rules, public awareness, strong data protections, and common sense must come first.
“Otherwise, we may soon find ourselves living in a place where everyone is watching, recording, uploading and no one feels truly comfortable anymore.
“Because in the end, technology should work for the people, not turn the people into content.”
