A few weeks ago, I was approached about an opportunity to test Meta's AI glasses in my creative workshops. What sounded like an exciting collaboration with one of the world's biggest technology companies ended up raising some interesting questions about AI, privacy, creativity and the value of our work as small business owners.
It's not every day that an opportunity involving a company as big as Meta lands in your inbox, is it? When I was approached about testing their AI glasses in my creative workshops, I wasn't quite sure what to think. On paper, it sounded like an interesting opportunity. The idea was to explore whether the glasses could be used as an additional teaching tool to help people learn to knit.
I've been running creative workshops for years, teaching hundreds of people how to make things with their hands, and these days I also mentor other creative workshop hosts. I'm always interested in finding ways to make workshops more enjoyable, accessible and easier to run, so I could see why someone might think this was a good fit.
But my first reaction wasn't excitement. It was hesitation, and a slightly uncomfortable feeling that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Why I was hesitant about using Meta's AI glasses
I'd already heard some pretty uncomfortable stories about people being filmed without their knowledge by someone wearing smart glasses. The idea of having a camera on my face while teaching a room full of people didn't sit particularly well with me.
One of the things I love most about creative workshops is the atmosphere. People arrive, often feeling a little nervous because they're trying something new, and spend a couple of hours chatting, laughing, learning and making something with their hands. It's a chance to get away from screens and the distractions of everyday life. For some people, it's one of the few opportunities they get to do something entirely for themselves.
I work hard to make my workshops feel relaxed and welcoming, and I couldn't help wondering whether wearing a pair of camera-equipped glasses might change that.
Part of me wanted to say no immediately, but I also didn't want to get on my high horse and dismiss something I knew very little about. I use technology in my business all the time, including AI, and I know there are plenty of situations where it can be incredibly useful. So I decided to give the glasses a chance and make my own mind up.
The other thing that didn't sit right: the budget
There was another part of the opportunity that left me feeling uncomfortable and it had nothing to do with the technology itself.
During the conversations about the project, I was told that the budget was very limited. Yep, you are reading that correctly… META HAD A VERY SMALL BUDGET! Let that sink in. There also seemed to be an expectation that I would contribute a considerable amount of my own time and expertise without being paid for all of it.
I understand that budgets exist and not every project has unlimited resources. I've run small creative businesses myself and I know how carefully every penny sometimes needs to be considered, but I also think we need to have a conversation about the way creative business owners are expected to work with larger organisations.
Running a creative workshop involves considerably more than turning up and teaching for a couple of hours. There's the planning, preparation, materials, communication, administration and all the experience that goes into making something look effortless. And when someone approaches you because of your particular skills, knowledge or audience, those things have value too.
I spend a lot of time encouraging the creative business owners I mentor to charge properly for their work and stop treating their own time as though it's free. So it felt particularly uncomfortable to find myself in a situation where I was being asked to consider doing exactly that.
I don't think every collaboration needs to involve an enormous fee, and there are certainly times when an opportunity offers benefits beyond immediate financial payment. But those benefits need to be meaningful, and the arrangement needs to work for both parties. Being associated with a recognisable company name isn't, on its own, enough.
So, are Meta's AI glasses actually useful for teaching creative workshops?
I went ahead and tested the glasses during two arm knitting workshops, where I was teaching a total of 34 people how to make giant knitted blankets.
The idea was that the glasses might be able to offer additional instructions or guidance when someone needed help. In theory, that sounds quite useful, particularly in a busy workshop where several people might need assistance at once. Unfortunately, in practice, they weren't particularly good at teaching people to knit.
The instructions were sometimes incorrect or difficult to follow, and the glasses struggled to recognise different stitches or identify where someone had made a mistake. Those are precisely the things people tend to need help with when they're learning a new practical skill.
There was also the rather obvious practical problem that when you're halfway through knitting a giant blanket with yarn wrapped around both arms, stopping to put on a pair of glasses isn't exactly convenient!
I could see some benefits for recording content, capturing the making process and keeping hands-free notes, but I couldn't see them making the actual teaching experience significantly easier. And that brought me back to the question I'd been asking myself from the beginning.
Just because we can introduce AI into a creative workshop, does that mean we should?
Do we really need AI in creative workshops?
I think this is the part of the experience I've found most interesting. We're living in a time when AI is being introduced into almost everything. There seems to be an assumption that if we can use technology to make something quicker, easier or more efficient, we probably should. And sometimes that's absolutely true.
I'm certainly not against AI. I can see how useful it can be for running a small business, particularly when it comes to things like administration, planning and organising information, but I don't think every experience needs to be made more efficient.
Sometimes the whole point of doing something creative is to slow down.
When someone books onto a knitting, pottery, painting or floristry workshop, they're not necessarily looking for the quickest possible route to a finished product. They're paying for the experience of learning something new, getting their hands involved and spending time doing something enjoyable. They're also paying for the knowledge, encouragement and reassurance of the person teaching them. And I think there's something rather lovely about that.
I'm not convinced that adding another piece of technology to the experience automatically makes it better.
The privacy concerns I couldn't ignore
There was also something else bothering me. Even if the glasses were working perfectly as a teaching tool, I still wasn't sure I'd feel comfortable wearing them in my workshops. I kept imagining someone arriving for a relaxing afternoon of knitting, only to discover that the person teaching them was wearing a camera on their face. Would they feel comfortable? Would they wonder whether they were being recorded? Would they feel more self-conscious about making mistakes or asking questions?
Of course, that wouldn't necessarily be everyone's reaction. Some people might not mind at all, but for me, whether the glasses were actually recording wasn't really the point. It was how their presence might make people feel.
I've always believed that a good creative workshop is about much more than teaching someone how to make something. It's about creating an environment where people feel comfortable enough to have a go, make mistakes and enjoy themselves. I didn't want to introduce something that might undermine that.
Are there situations where AI glasses could be beneficial?
Absolutely, and I think it's important to acknowledge that.
Since trying the glasses, I've done some reading about how AI-powered smart glasses can support people with visual impairments. Features such as describing surroundings, reading text aloud and providing hands-free information have the potential to make everyday activities more accessible. I can also see why someone who regularly creates video content might find hands-free recording useful. And perhaps, as the technology develops, there will be better ways to use AI to support people learning practical creative skills.
My experience was with a particular use of the glasses, in a particular environment, at a particular point in their development. It doesn't mean the technology has no value. It just wasn't right for me.
Why I decided to walk away from the opportunity
Ultimately, I decided to send the glasses back rather than pursue the opportunity any further. I'm glad I tried them because I can now make that decision based on my own experience rather than something I've read online. But the whole thing has also reminded me of something I think is particularly important when you're running a creative business.
Not every opportunity is a good opportunity, even when it involves a big name.
I think it's very easy to feel that you should say yes when someone approaches you about a collaboration. Particularly when you're self-employed, trying to grow your business and hoping to become more established in your industry.
There's a temptation to think about how impressive it might look, who it might introduce you to or what other opportunities it could lead to, but I think it's worth asking a few other questions too.
Does it align with the kind of business you want to run? Are you being fairly compensated for your time and expertise? Does it offer something worthwhile to the people you work with? And, perhaps most importantly, does it actually feel right?
I've spent years building a creative workshop business around experiences that bring people together, encourage creativity and give them a chance to switch off for a little while. I've also built my mentoring business around helping other creative people create businesses that work for them, rather than feeling they have to chase every opportunity that comes their way. It would feel a little strange to ignore all of that simply because a recognisable company had approached me.
What this experience taught me about running a creative business
If there's one thing I've taken away from this experience, it's that I want to be more intentional about the opportunities I accept. That doesn't mean refusing to try new things or being closed-minded about technology. Quite the opposite. I'm glad I was curious enough to explore something I wasn't initially comfortable with, but I'm also glad I trusted myself when, having tried it, I realised it wasn't the right fit.
I think that's something worth remembering, whether you're running creative workshops, selling handmade products or building any other kind of creative business.
You don't have to say yes to something just because you've been asked, you don't have to provide your expertise for free in the hope that it might lead to something bigger, and you certainly don't have to introduce technology into every part of your business simply because it's available. Sometimes the best thing you can do is decide what matters to you and build your business around that.
For me, creative workshops are about getting people together, making things with our hands and enjoying a little time away from the noise of everyday life.
I think that's something worth protecting.