At Meta Connect 2024, Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Orion AR glasses, a prototype of holographic augmented reality eyewear that aims to redefine personal technology. The glasses, weighing 100 grams, feature a traditional design and are a significant leap forward in AR technology, building on Meta's previous collaborations with Ray-Ban.
Zuckerberg emphasized that the Orion glasses are the result of a decade of research, though he acknowledged the design is still evolving. The device overlays virtual elements onto the real world, allowing users to make video calls, watch videos, and browse the internet seamlessly. With eye and hand tracking, voice controls, and a neural interface, these glasses are positioned as a potential smartphone replacement, competing with Apple's Vision Pro.
During the presentation, the glasses were showcased in various applications, including gaming and virtual meetings using personal avatars. Meta plans to distribute production kits to developers for content creation, although a commercial release is still a few years away.
Additionally, Meta announced the Meta Quest 3S, a more affordable virtual reality headset priced at $299 for the 128GB version, and updates to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. New features include hands-free access to music, audiobooks, and podcasts, as well as translation capabilities for multiple languages using Meta AI. System updates are expected by 2025.
In a related development, Meta is launching translation tools for Instagram and Facebook, enabling creators to communicate in multiple languages through lip-syncing technology, currently in testing in the U.S. and Latin America. Generative AI features will also be introduced for quick image creation on social media.