Meta, the company formerly known as facebook, has unveiled updates to its virtual reality headset and Ray Ban smart glasses. The aim is to showcase its artificial intelligence capabilities and the future of computing platforms beyond smartphones and computers. CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Orion, a prototype that he described as “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.” These holographic augmented reality glasses are designed to be lightweight and resemble regular eyeglasses rather than bulky headsets. They also feature a “wrist-based neural interface” that allows users to send signals from their brain to the device using a wristband. However, there is no release date for Orion yet.
During the presentation at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Zuckerberg emphasized the company’s mission to make technology more accessible and focused on human connection. He announced an AI update that enables influencers to create AI versions of themselves for interacting with fans. Additionally, Meta AI now offers live translation capabilities demonstrated by Zuckerberg himself during a conversation with Mexican mixed martial artist Brandon Moreno.
Meta reported having 500 million users for its AI system. Analyst Jeremy Goldman called this number “jaw-dropping” and noted that Meta has transformed from a social media company into an AI powerhouse. In addition to these updates, Meta showcased a cheaper version of its VR goggles called Quest 3S priced at $299.
Goldman also highlighted Meta’s aggressive pricing strategy aimed at dominating the middle-tier AR/VR market by undercutting Apple’s Vision Pro goggles which cost $3,500. Meanwhile, Meta’s augmented reality Ray Bans have been successful due in part to their integration with AI features.
Despite still generating most of its revenue from advertising, Meta is heavily investing in AI technologies and next-generation computing platforms like VR headsets and AR glasses. While some experts believe VR headsets will not go mainstream due to their cumbersome nature, others see great potential in smart glasses like Orion for everyday consumers’ interactions with brands.
these updates demonstrate Meta’s commitment to advancing technology innovation while making it more accessible and user-friendly.