Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is gearing up for its annual Connect conference where it is expected to unveil its first augmented reality glasses and provide updates on its virtual reality and artificial intelligence products. One of the AI updates includes an audio upgrade that allows users to choose different voices for Meta’s ChatGPT-like chatbot, including celebrity voices like Judi Dench and John Cena. This conference marks a significant moment for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has been focusing on AR technology as a key component of the company’s metaverse vision.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the augmented reality reveal, Meta has faced technical challenges with its AR project. The head of the company’s Reality Labs division admitted that a viable product is still a few years away. To address these challenges, Meta has been investing billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other metaverse technologies. The Reality Labs unit incurred significant losses in the first half of the year, totaling $8.3 billion, and $16 billion in losses last year.
The first generation of the AR glasses is expected to be distributed internally and to a select group of developers, with each device costing tens of thousands of dollars. Meta plans to release the first commercial AR glasses to consumers by 2027, with hopes that technological advancements will reduce production costs. Zuckerberg hinted at the progress of the AR glasses prototype during a live podcast taping, indicating that Meta is close to showcasing the initial design. The company has not yet confirmed these plans officially.
In the meantime, Meta has found success with its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which have become popular due to the addition of an AI-powered digital assistant. Although sales numbers have not been disclosed, the new generation of smart glasses has outsold the previous version within a few months. Market research estimates suggest that over 700,000 pairs of the glasses have been shipped since the update last year. Meta is working to enhance the AI assistant’s capabilities through software updates, with plans to introduce a next-generation viewfinder that can display basic text and images through the lenses.
Looking ahead, Meta continues to explore opportunities for collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban, and may consider investing in the eyewear company. Speculation suggests that future iterations of the AR glasses may carry the Ray-Ban branding. Meta’s focus on advancing AI technology and augmented reality demonstrates its commitment to shaping the future of immersive digital experiences. As the company faces technical hurdles and financial challenges, it remains determined to drive innovation and bring its vision of the metaverse to life. The upcoming Connect conference will provide valuable insights into Meta’s progress and plans for the future, setting the stage for further advancements in AR, VR, and AI technologies.
