Meta Unveils First Augmented Reality Glasses, Meta Orion, with Holographic Displays and AI Support
At its annual Meta Connect 2024 conference, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, showcased its first-ever augmented reality (AR) glasses, Meta Orion, after nearly a decade of development. The device boasts holographic displays and features support for Meta AI, a cutting-edge AI-powered assistant. While the device won’t be available to customers immediately, Meta promises to introduce a commercial version within the next few years.
The Meta Orion glasses are designed to look like regular glasses, offering a sleek and discreet AR experience. The holographic displays allow wearers to see 2D and 3D content on top of objects within their field of vision, making multi-tasking and video playback a breeze. The device can even display "life-size holograms of people," making it an ideal tool for social interactions.
In addition to AR features, the Orion glasses also work seamlessly with Meta AI, which can perform visual lookups and provide contextual information. For instance, when presented with multiple ingredients on a table, Meta AI can display a smoothie recipe. The glasses also integrate with Meta’s messaging apps, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, enabling wearers to view and send messages via the holographic display.
In a jab at Apple’s Vision Pro, which went on sale earlier this year, Meta emphasized the importance of preserving the physical world around us. "People shouldn’t have to make the choice between a world of information and being present in the physical world," Meta spokesperson said.
The Meta Orion glasses won’t be available to customers, but company employees and select external audiences will have access to the prototype to continue developing Meta’s consumer AR glasses product. Meta’s current priorities include improving the visuals on the AR display, reducing the form factor, and making the device affordable by building it at scale.
While the exact timeline for a commercial release remains unknown, Meta promises to keep working on its AR technology, aiming to bring it to customers in the near future.
