Meta Reveals AR Glasses Prototype and Zuckerberg's Vision for the Future
Meta Platforms unveils first working prototype of AR glasses named Orion at annual Connect conference. Mark Zuckerberg describes the glasses as a "time machine" offering a glimpse into an exciting future. Meta showcases new AI chatbot features, mixed-reality headset Quest, and plans for enhancing AR glasses design.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's Chief Executive, presented the glasses, describing them as a way to bring holograms into the physical world. He referred to Orion as a "time machine," offering a glimpse into an exciting future. The glasses, made of magnesium alloy and powered by custom silicon, allow users to interact through hand-tracking, voice, and wrist-based neural interface.
Meta also showcased new AI chatbot features and a mixed-reality headset called Quest. The company's shares reached a record high, closing at $568.31. Despite the promising features of Orion, Meta plans to enhance its design to be smaller, sleeker, and more affordable before releasing it to consumers. Zuckerberg highlighted the company's commitment to making virtual and augmented reality products accessible to the mass market.
While Meta aims to ship its first commercial AR glasses to consumers by 2027, Zuckerberg did not directly demonstrate Orion's capabilities during the conference. Instead, a video was shown with testers reacting positively to the device. The company's previous smart glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, gained popularity after the addition of an AI assistant. Meta continues to enhance these glasses, enabling features like scanning QR codes and real-time language translation.
In addition to the AR glasses, Meta announced various new product offerings, including updates to its ChatGPT-like chatbot and Meta AI digital assistant. The company revealed plans to introduce voice command responses and celebrity voice options for the assistant. Zuckerberg emphasised the natural interaction of voice with AI, stating that it will be a more intuitive way to engage with technology.
Meta's investment in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and metaverse technologies has been substantial, with billions of dollars allocated to these areas. The company's metaverse unit, Reality Labs, reported significant losses in recent years, indicating the high costs associated with developing cutting-edge technologies.
Meta Platforms unveils first working prototype of AR glasses named Orion at annual Connect conference
Mark Zuckerberg describes the glasses as a "time machine" offering a glimpse into an exciting future
Meta showcases new AI chatbot features, mixed-reality headset Quest, and plans for enhancing AR glasses design
Source: REUTERS