Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg presented the prototype of a new augmented reality headset called "Orion" at the company's annual Connect conference on Wednesday. According to Zuckerberg, it is the "most advanced in the world" and marks the result of decades of technological breakthroughs in the industry.
The glasses feature holographic displays that can overlay both 2D and 3D content onto the real world. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), the glasses analyze their surroundings and provide users with proactive suggestions displayed on the screen. The announcement led to an increase in Meta shares by more than two percent.
Although the prototype is currently only accessible for internal use at Meta and for selected developers, Zuckerberg admitted that the glasses need to become smaller, more fashionable, and affordable for the mass market. "We do, however, have a clear vision on how we can solve all these challenges," said Zuckerberg.
Meta received support in a video from prominent figures in the technology industry, such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman.
The competition for the development of augmented reality glasses is intensifying. Meta's rivals, such as Snap, are also working on their own versions of AR glasses. Both companies are betting that such glasses could one day replace smartphones. Apple also plays an important role in this segment.
Zuckerberg emphasized the AI capabilities of the 'Orion' glasses. Not only will they be equipped with Meta's AI system 'Llama', but they will also feature neural interfaces that send signals from the brain to the glasses via the wrist. This technology is based on electromyography (EMG), which has already been used in previous research projects by Meta. EMG can capture motor nerve signals and convert them into digital commands.
Meta invested around 1 billion USD in 2019 in the startup CTRL-labs, which develops technologies to control electronic devices through brain signals. Zuckerberg stated that this technology is the key to new, discreet control methods.
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"Additionally, Meta introduced more products based on generative AI, including the latest update of its language model Llama 3.2. This AI can now also understand diagrams, graphics, and documents. Zuckerberg compared the Llama model to Linux and stated that it is becoming the standard in the AI industry.
Meta also released an updated version of the Ray-Ban smart glasses. Although they don't have AR displays, they enable real-time analysis of photos and videos with a voice interface that uses Meta AI. New features include reminders, QR code scans, and live translation of conversations.
