Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has unveiled updates to its virtual reality headset and Ray Ban smart glasses, alongside advancements in artificial intelligence. The CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, introduced Orion, described as the most advanced glasses ever created during the event at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Zuckerberg emphasized the technical challenges behind developing the holographic augmented reality glasses, emphasizing the need for them to be lightweight, wireless, and feature a neural interface allowing signals to be sent from the brain to the device.
While Zuckerberg did not provide a release date for Orion, he referred to it as a glimpse into the future of technology. The company is striving to make the future accessible to all through its headsets, glasses, and AI system. Updates to the Llama model include the capability for users to interact with Meta AI using voice commands, featuring voices from celebrities like John Cena, Judi Dench, and Awkwafina. The Meta Quest 3, launched last year, now has a more affordable version called Quest 3S priced at $299, with shipping set to begin on October 15.
Although virtual reality headsets have dominated headlines, Meta’s augmented reality Ray Ban glasses have quietly gained popularity. Zuckerberg mentioned the success of the glasses, attributing it to AI technology and the unique form factor. The glasses have the ability to assist users in various tasks like recollecting where they parked, suggesting recipes, or aiding in selecting outfits for an event. Despite Meta’s primary revenue source continuing to be advertising, the company is heavily investing in AI and the development of future computing platforms such as VR headsets and augmented reality glasses.
