Parent company of social media giant Facebook, Meta, revealed updates to the company’s virtual reality headset and Ray Ban smart glasses on Wednesday as it tries to reveal its artificial intelligence dexterity and the next generation of computing platforms beyond smartphones and computers. Additionally, the company presented off a prototype for holographic augmented reality glasses. Meta also revealed updates to the company’s AI and a cheaper VR headset.
Orion, a prototype that CEO Mark Zuckerberg described as “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen,” was also on display.
At Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Zuckerberg told a group of developers and journalists, “The technical challenges to make them are insane.” One requirement was that the holographic augmented reality glasses be glasses, not bulky headsets. Among other necessities, there are no wires, and they must weigh less than 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Orion also has a “wrist-based neural interface,” which allows you to send a signal from your brain to the device via a wristband that changes nerve signals into digital instructions, in addition to interrelating with your voice, typing, and hand activities.
Orion, which Zuckerberg called a “glimpse of the future,” has no release date.
Zuckerberg stated that Meta is working to “bring the future to everyone” with its headsets, glasses, and AI system, appearing to be in his element in front of a cheering audience. Meta AI’s Llama model has been updated, and as a result, users will now be able to speak with it, using voices from famous wrestlers like John Cena, Judi Dench, and Awkwafina.
Zuckerberg stated, “We are trying to build a future that is more open, more accessible, and more about human connection.” This is a continuation of the values and concepts that Meta’s apps and technology have been built on over the past two decades.
Influencers can now create AI versions of themselves to interact with fans thanks to a new AI update. A computer-generated Don Allen Stevenson III appeared on the screen during the keynote address and responded to a few questions in the same manner as the creator would. The AI creator responded, “my expertise lies in technology and design, not agriculture,” when Zuckerberg inquired about cattle ranching. This tool previously only supported text.
Zuckerberg demonstrated live translation on stage, one of the other AI updates. Zuckerberg spoke to Mexican mixed martial artist Brandon Moreno through smart glasses in English, and Moreno responded in Spanish. The conversation was translated in real time. Additionally, people can dub their videos in a different language to give the impression that they are speaking the language fluently, even to the point of changing the movements of their lips to match.
According to the company, Meta AI now has 500 million users. The number was described by Emarketer researcher Jeremy Goldman as “jaw-dropping.”
The social media company Meta has evolved into an AI powerhouse. Goldman stated, “Zuckerberg’s move to celebrity voices is not just for fun; it is also a direct challenge to OpenAI, with an emphasis on its utility in the real world.”
Meta, which presented the Journey 3 last year, likewise flaunted a less expensive variant of the VR goggles — the 3S — that will cost $299. Quest 3 normally costs $499. On October 15, the S3 will begin shipping.
According to Goldman’s assertion, “Meta is aggressively undercutting Apple’s Vision Pro to dominate the middle-tier AR/VR market.” The VR goggles, which were much-anticipated to be released earlier this year, cost $3,500.
The augmented reality Ray Bans proved to be a surprise success for Meta, despite the fact that VR goggles have received more attention. Although sales figures have not been made public by Meta, Zuckerberg stated on the company’s earnings call in July that the glasses “continue to be a bigger hit sooner than we expected — thanks in part to AI.” Zuckerberg stated on Wednesday that due to high demand, Meta appears to have overcome the supply issues that plagued Ray Ban sunglasses a few months ago.
Zuckerberg stated, “They are kind of the perfect form factor for AI.” He went on to say that the glasses let an AI assistant assist you in going about your day by “seeing what you see, hearing what you hear.”
You could, for example, ask the glasses to tell you where you parked or where to get groceries, look at a pile of fruit and make a smoothie, or help you pick out an outfit for a party.
Although Meta changed its name from Facebook in 2021, advertising continues to account for nearly all of the company’s revenue. Ads accounted for 98% of the company’s over $39 billion in revenue in the most recent quarter. The company is also making important investments in AI and what Zuckerberg sees as the next generation of computing platforms, such as virtual reality and augmented reality glasses.
Mike Proulx, the director of research at Forrester, stated, “VR headsets will not go mainstream, despite Meta’s assertion.” People can only tolerate them for short periods because they are too cumbersome.
In contrast, “put computing power directly into a common and familiar form factor” with glasses. These smart glasses have the potential to disrupt everyday consumers’ interactions with brands as the smart technology behind them develops.
“Sets the stage for a future where a revolutionary 3D computing platform is within reach and can actually be useful to the everyday consumer,” according to Proulx of the Orion prototype.
