(Image source from: Facebook.com/Meta)
Facebook parent company Meta has announced updates to its Ray-Ban virtual reality (VR) headset and smart glasses, signaling its commitment to artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation computing platforms, Reuters reported. At the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a prototype called Orion, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg called "the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen." At MetaConnect 2024 on September 25, Zuckerberg said that The holographic augmented reality (AR) glasses are light, wireless and feature unique “wrist-based technology” that converts brain signals into digital “neural interfaces”. “The engineering challenges of building this building are insane,” Zuckerberg told the audience. No release date has been announced for Orion, but Zuckerberg called it a "peek into the future," according to Reuters. Updates to the Meta AI system were also unveiled at the event, including voice interaction features with celebrity voices. Zuckerberg emphasized the company's vision: "We are building a future that is more open, accessible, natural and focused on human connection".
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Meta has introduced new AI features aimed at content creators, allowing them to create their own versions of AI to interact with fans. The company also demonstrated live translations using smart glasses, with Zuckerberg speaking in English and Mexican MMA fighter Brandon Moreno responding in Spanish. The company announced that Meta AI now has 500 million users. Industry analyst Jeremy Goldman called it a “wonderful number.” As for the hardware, Meta has announced a cheaper version of its VR headset, the $299 Quest 3S, which is set to launch on October 15th. The company also has what Zuckerberg calls the "perfect form factor for AI," while Meta still gets the majority of its revenue from advertising but has invested heavily in AI and new computing platforms. However, some industry experts remain skeptical about the general adoption of VR headsets. Forrester research director Mike Proulx said: "It's so annoying that people will only tolerate it for a short period of time".
Still, Proulx acknowledged the potential of smart glasses, saying they could "bring computing power directly into a common and familiar form" and "transform consumers' everyday interactions with brands".
