Meta announced a $19.99 Meta One Premium subscription that will limit the Conversation Focus feature on its Ray‑Ban‑styled Meta Glasses to three hours of free use per month. The feature, introduced in December 2023, amplifies the voice of the person you’re talking to using on‑device AI, helping users stay tuned in noisy environments. Because the processing is local, Meta has no technical reason to charge for it, and many users bought the glasses for its accessibility benefits.

The Verge reported that Meta said it was “pausing” the paywall, though it remains open to rate‑limiting other AI functions. Some see this move as a reason to wait for Apple Glasses, which are slated to launch next year at a higher price but with a reputation for privacy. Meta’s stance that the feature is not an accessibility tool has drawn criticism, as even people with moderate hearing loss can benefit from clearer conversation focus.

The company insists it never expects a return on investment for accessibility features, aiming instead to contribute to a better world. The early‑access program will keep Conversation Focus free for testers while Meta reconsiders its subscription model.