This is a big step for Meta to bring the virtual world into real life, with the ambition to compete directly with big rivals like Apple in the field of augmented reality (AR) technology.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg described the Orion glasses as a “time machine,” offering a glimpse into the potential future that Meta is working toward. While the product is still in development, the event underscores Meta’s commitment to expanding and applying AR technology to everyday life.
The Orion is made from magnesium alloy and powered by a silicon chip developed by Meta. Users can interact with the glasses via hand tracking, voice, and a wrist-based neural interface.
Mr. Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta is continuing to improve the size and design of the glasses to become more compact and cost-effective before officially launching to consumers, expected in 2027. However, Meta still faces many technical challenges and high development costs, which have prevented previous AR glasses projects such as Google Glass from achieving the expected success.
Meta not only introduced its Orion glasses during the launch, but also unveiled a number of AI improvements. The company updated its chatbot features and launched a new Quest mixed reality headset. The event sent Meta shares to a record high, up 0.9% to $568.31.
Another notable product is the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which were previously overlooked but have become more popular thanks to their AI integration. The glasses can now scan QR codes, play music from Spotify, and even translate languages in real time. In a live demonstration, Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated the ability to translate between English and Spanish through a conversation with MMA fighter Brandon Moreno.
Despite Meta’s high hopes for AR technology, the market remains skeptical about the success of these products. Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight, said Meta’s goal is to make AR and virtual reality (VR) more mainstream and accessible, but users still need time to accept the presence of AI in their lives. Still, Meta is investing heavily in research and development to ensure that Orion and other products become the norm in the future.
In addition, Meta also announced many new features for the Meta AI virtual assistant, including the ability to interact by voice with the voices of celebrities such as Judi Dench and John Cena. Zuckerberg believes that voice communication will be more natural and easier to use than text interaction, helping to improve the user experience.
