Meta’s AR Smart Glasses Combats “Anti-Social” Media, Say Zuckerberg

In anticipation of Meta Connect 2024, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is actively engaging with media and industry events to strengthen Meta's position as a leading force in XR solutions, following Apple's recent high-profile entry into the space.

Zuckerberg has criticized the isolating nature of phone screens and social media apps, describing this form of computer interaction as "anti-social." He argues that smart glasses offer a more natural and social alternative. He explained:

"When you’re building social apps, it’s odd that they are delivered through such a small screen that people carry around. It’s a very anti-social form factor in some ways. That’s why I’m so invested in smart glasses—they offer a more natural interaction."

Smart glasses are seen as an evolution of mobile computing, shifting from handheld devices to eyewear. The Vision Pro, for instance, incorporates pinch-and-pull inputs similar to those on touchscreens. Meta’s collaboration with Ray-Ban aims to integrate social media platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger into AR-lite experiences on smart glasses, allowing for hands-free operation through voice input.

The market is moving towards AR and MR wearables, with a recent report from ResearchAndMarkets highlighting significant growth in smart glasses. The global market for these devices reached approximately 678,600 units in 2023 and is expected to expand to 13 million units by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 53.0% from 2023 to 2030.

In contrast, IDC reported a 67.4% decline in global AR/VR headset shipments in Q1 2024, particularly impacting VR headsets, as consumers shift their focus towards MR/AR devices.

Interest in smart glasses is rising, with improved sales of the latest Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses since their October release. The new generation, enhanced with Meta AI technology, has surpassed the previous Ray-Ban Stories model in popularity. Francesco Milleri, CEO of Ray-Ban's parent company EssilorLuxottica, noted that the initial generation laid the groundwork for the success of the current model.

Meta Connect 2024 is approaching, and rumors suggest that the event will include announcements about a more affordable Quest 3 model, alongside further developments in smart glasses.

At SIGGRAPH, Zuckerberg and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang discussed Meta’s XR hardware ambitions and AI integration, emphasizing that Meta’s use of AI, large language models, and XR creates an open ecosystem, offering a competitive edge.

Despite the advancements, Zuckerberg does not foresee XR devices completely replacing traditional devices like smartphones and laptops. He stated, “When we think about the next computing platform, we consider mixed reality, headsets, and smart glasses.”

Source - https://www.xrtoday.com/augmented-reality/metas-ar-smart-glasses-combats-anti-social-media-say-zuckerberg/