Zuckerberg’s ‘time machine’ to future, Meta Orian AR glasses

With these glasses, the line between the physical and digital worlds begins to blur. Zuckerberg introduced the Orion glasses with a dramatic flair, pulling out the sleek black frames from a metal case. “This is the physical world with holograms overlaid on it,” he said. These glasses represent a glimpse into the future—a future where your surroundings are enhanced by digital elements projected right in front of you. But what exactly do these glasses do? Picture this: You’re wearing a pair of lightweight, magnesium alloy glasses, powered by custom-designed silicon chips. You interact with them using hand-tracking, voice commands, or even a neural interface on your wrist. These glasses aren’t just a gadget—they’re a time machine, as Zuckerberg put it. A peek into what technology might look like in the coming years.

Of course, Meta isn’t the first company to dive into augmented reality. Tech giants like Google tried before with Google Glass, but those efforts didn’t quite take off. So, what makes Meta’s Orion different? Meta’s big vision extends far beyond just AR glasses. It’s part of a grander scheme known as the metaverse—a digital universe where virtual experiences mix with real-life interactions. Meta pivoted towards this immersive world back in 2021, and the Orion glasses are one of its boldest steps yet toward bringing that vision to life.

The Orion glasses aim to be more than just a cool gadget. Meta wants to make these devices sleek, affordable, and most importantly—practical. Imagine pulling up directions, texting a friend, or even joining a video call—all without taking out your phone. Though Zuckerberg didn’t demonstrate the glasses’ capabilities live, a video was shown with people testing the prototype. Some of the early testers included Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia. The glasses displayed text messages and images, giving us a taste of what they might offer once they hit the market.

If this all sounds futuristic, Meta has already started making strides in this direction with its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Last year, these glasses didn’t grab much attention, but after Meta added an AI assistant, they quickly gained popularity. With simple voice commands, users can now scan QR codes, stream music from Spotify, and even control smart home devices. And this is just the beginning! Later this year, Meta plans to release an update that will allow these glasses to generate videos and perform real-time language translations. In fact, during the Connect event, Zuckerberg demonstrated the language translation tool with Mexican MMA fighter, Brandon Moreno. The glasses translated English into Spanish and vice versa in real time—a feature that could break down communication barriers across the globe. But augmented reality is only one part of Meta’s ambitions.

At the same event, Meta announced exciting updates for its AI services. Meta AI, its digital assistant, will now be able to respond to voice commands, making interaction more natural and intuitive. It’s no surprise that over 400 million people are using Meta AI monthly, with 185 million of them returning weekly. As if that wasn’t enough, Meta is offering some extra fun by letting users make their AI assistant sound like their favorite celebrities, including icons like Judi Dench and John Cena. Imagine asking your AI for a weather update and hearing John Cena’s voice answering! And Meta didn’t stop there.

Alongside the Orion glasses and AI updates, the company revealed its latest entry-level Quest headset. The Quest 3S is the newest addition to Meta’s mixed-reality lineup, starting at just $300. This lower price point makes it accessible to more consumers, giving them a taste of the metaverse experience. So, why is Meta investing so heavily in augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the metaverse? Well, Meta has already spent tens of billions of dollars on these technologies, and its investments aren’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, Meta expects its capital expenses for 2024 to reach a record high—between $37 billion and $40 billion. But this bold vision isn’t without its challenges. Meta’s metaverse unit, Reality Labs, reported losses of $8.3 billion in the first half of this year alone. Last year, that number was a staggering $16 billion. Despite the financial strain, Meta is charging full steam ahead.

Looking ahead, Meta has big plans for the future. The company aims to release its first commercial AR glasses to the public by 2027. By then, advancements in technology should drive down production costs, making these innovative devices more affordable. Meta’s journey into the future is one of bold ambition, cutting-edge innovation, and incredible potential. With Orion augmented-reality glasses, AI chatbots, and mixed-reality headsets, the lines between our physical and virtual worlds are starting to blur. So, the next time you think about what the future holds, remember—it’s already on its way, thanks to Meta.

Thanks for reading!   Please, check out our article about a miracle drug that is enhancing human life by 25%.   It also improve health by minimizing wrinkles and even reduce chances of cancer. Researchers from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College London have made an amazing discovery that could change how we think about aging.   They found that blocking a protein called IL-11 can make mice live almost 25% longer in good health. And this discovery might one day help humans too.   If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more science updates and breakthroughs. The future is happening now, and you don’t want to miss it.