How I Used Smart Glasses to Trick a Bartender Into Giving Me a Free Drink
I recently reviewed the Even Realities G1 smart glasses (they’re pretty cool), and the first thing I used them for in real life was a scam. I told a local bartender I had an encyclopedic knowledge of movies and would answer the hardest trivia question he could come up with for a drink. After a quick Google search, the guy replied, “Who directed The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in 1922?”
I tilted my head thoughtfully and repeated the question, as if checking to make sure I’d heard it correctly. The AI agent silently completed its task, and about three seconds later, the answer was floating before my eyes, completely invisible to anyone around me.
“Robert Wiene?” I asked, feigning uncertainty. Boom! Free drink. It wasn’t the hardest quiz question, but I could have answered literally anything: the date of Dr. Caligari’s release, the day of the week, or the weather that day—it would all have been easy and straightforward.
Bartenders know to be careful with their bets, so this one watched me like a hawk to make sure I wasn’t searching for answers on my phone or anywhere else. He didn’t seem to notice my glasses, and even if he had, it wouldn’t have mattered. Even upon closer inspection, the G1 revealed no trace of electronics: no USB port, no blinking light, no visible controls.
The AI agent is activated by a gentle touch to the ear. Repeating a question sends the AI to a screen invisible to everyone but the user. The same trick can be performed with Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses or AI-powered smart glasses that only support audio.
I don’t like scamming people , so I ended up telling the bartender what was going on and refusing the drink, but it got me thinking about what meaner people than me could (and probably already are) doing with AI-powered smart glasses.
Just imagine what I’ve done on a larger scale: a team of cheaters playing bar trivia games, silently tapping their temples every time they’re asked, “Which actor played…?”, would never lose. The stakes are pretty small, but it’s easy to imagine. Hypothetically, hacked smart glasses could be programmed to read the cards in your poker hand and determine your winning odds in real time, either on the display or by whispering in your ear. Hypothetically, they could make card counting at blackjack easy and undetectable. Taking this idea even further, the glasses could scan other players for bluffing “tells” or read facial microexpressions to constantly update their opponents.
In the same vein, imagine you’re attending a self-help meeting, and a presenter you’ve never met says, “I had a vision of you,” and begins describing something that happened in your life. All it would take is a pair of face-recognition glasses (presumably designed for Meta Displays) connected to your social media feed, which is then displayed in real time to the presenter. Or you could go more subtle and orchestrate small “coincidences,” like mentioning a movie someone recently saw and expressing their opinion. A few such stunts, and perhaps some mystical chatter, are enough to convince people of your divinity and that they are absolutely worth sacrificing.
How to recognize faulty smart glasses
I could go on, but you get the idea. Fortunately, there are some signs that someone is using the technology hidden in their glasses. The most important thing is a basic understanding of the technology’s capabilities. If someone seems to know something they shouldn’t, ask yourself if the glasses are the source of their power. Here are some more specific signs.
Look for recognizable types of smart glasses
The most popular display glasses, Meta Ray-Ban Displays, have a distinctive appearance: a prominent camera in one corner, as well as a distinctive design and signature style. However, other smart glasses, such as the aforementioned Even Realities G1, are so inconspicuous that most people wouldn’t recognize them, and they look so “ordinary” that most people wouldn’t even notice them in the lineup.
Look for where the equipment is hidden
Most smart glasses are still quite bulky, so look for thick temples or frames that conceal wires. But again, this only applies to most smart glasses; some are downright sleek and feature discreet technology.
Look for a small glimmer
In most cases, the display in the glasses is visible only to the wearer, but light is still projected. In a dark room, a green glow can be seen, and even in bright rooms, the display windows are visible if light falls directly on them, as shown here:
But to be honest, it’s barely noticeable and hard to notice.
Listen to the sounds
Older models of audio-only smart glasses could transmit information to users, but their open-back speakers meant some sound leaked into the surrounding environment. You can definitely hear the smart glasses’ sound if you’re in a quiet room and straining to hear it. However, if the noise is too loud, using the glasses becomes problematic.
Find the source of control
Smart glasses need to be controlled somehow. The Meta Display glasses are controlled via a wristband. The glasses’ G1 AI agent is activated by touching the frame behind the ear. Anyone who practices for a few hours will feel these movements are natural, but they exist if you know what to look for.
Strange movements and speech
It doesn’t take much stagecraft to manipulate these glasses undetected, but it does require some skill. Signs include quick glances up to check the display, tapping the glasses, stilted speech while waiting for information, and speaking as if reading from a teleprompter. Watch for people repeating questions. But understand, it’s hard to spot. When I fooled the bartender, I thought my answer was obvious, but my wife said I just looked a little weird, which is generally consistent with the character of a trivia master.
Smart glasses are a powerful tool, like a hammer or a calculator. Like any harmless tool, they can be used for nefarious purposes, so until manufacturers or regulators require obvious indicators, such as flashing lights or visual controls, we’ll have to protect ourselves by paying attention to these subtle cues and remaining skeptical when someone seems to know more than they should.