Meta’s Bold Moves

Meta’s latest AR glasses won’t be available for years, but their AI features are already here. Confused? Let me explain.

Meta Connect 2024 was a whirlwind of announcements, and while we didn’t get a shiny new high-end gadget for the holidays, we did get a glimpse into the future of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). The big news? Meta’s Orion AR glasses are still a few years away, but the company is already pushing the boundaries of what AI can do with its current lineup of Ray-Ban smart glasses and VR headsets.

Let’s start with the Orion AR glasses. These bad boys have been in the works for what feels like forever, and while they’re not hitting shelves anytime soon, Meta gave us a sneak peek at what they’ll offer. Think holograms projected onto your lenses, sensors that track everything from your eye movements to your hand gestures, and AI that can help you whip up a recipe just by looking in your fridge. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? Well, don’t get too excited just yet—Meta says these glasses won’t be available until “the near future,” which could be anywhere from 2027 to... who knows when.

But while we wait for the Orion glasses, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are getting some pretty cool AI upgrades. The glasses can now handle real-time video queries, meaning you can ask them about landmarks or objects you’re looking at, and they’ll give you answers on the spot. They can also scan QR codes, set reminders based on what you see, and even dial phone numbers from text they recognize. It’s like having a personal assistant in your sunglasses, and it’s all powered by AI.

Meta’s also making the AI assistant in the glasses a lot more intuitive. You won’t have to remember specific commands like “Hey Meta, look and tell me.” Instead, you can use more natural language, like “What am I looking at?” The AI will also handle follow-up questions, making conversations with your glasses feel a lot more fluid. Oh, and did I mention the live translation feature? By the end of 2024, the glasses will be able to translate text in English, French, Italian, and Spanish, making them a handy tool for travelers.

Now, let’s talk VR. Meta also unveiled the Quest 3S, a more budget-friendly version of last year’s Quest 3. It’s priced at $300, which is a steal compared to the $500 Quest 3. Of course, you’re making some sacrifices for that lower price. The Quest 3S has cheaper lenses, a lower resolution, and less storage (starting at 128GB). But if you’re new to VR or just looking for a more affordable option, it’s a solid choice. Plus, it has slightly better battery life than the Quest 3, clocking in at 2.5 hours compared to the Quest 3’s 2.2 hours. Not a huge difference, but hey, every little bit helps when you’re deep into a VR game.

Speaking of games, if you pre-order the Quest 3S, you’ll get a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow, a VR-exclusive game that’s set to drop next month. So, if you’ve ever wanted to be the Dark Knight in virtual reality, now’s your chance.

And in case you’re wondering what’s happening to the older Quest models, Meta’s phasing out the Quest 2 and Quest Pro by the end of the year. The Quest 3S is now the go-to budget model, and with its improved mixed reality capabilities, it’s a worthy successor to the Quest 2. As for the Quest Pro, it never really caught on with consumers, and with its inferior cameras and passthrough video compared to the Quest 3, it’s no surprise Meta’s pulling the plug.

But wait, there’s more! Meta’s AI is also getting some major upgrades. You can now chat with Meta’s AI using your voice, and they’ve even partnered with celebrities like John Cena and Dame Judi Dench to lend their voices to the chatbot. So, if you’ve ever wanted to ask John Cena for life advice, now’s your chance. The AI can also edit photos based on text prompts, like adding or removing objects or changing backgrounds. This feature will be available on Meta’s social apps, including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

And let’s not forget about Llama 3.2, Meta’s latest AI model. It now has vision capabilities, meaning it can analyze and describe images, putting it in direct competition with AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic. It’s clear that Meta is doubling down on AI, and we’re just starting to see the potential of what these tools can do.

So, what’s the takeaway from Meta Connect 2024? While we didn’t get any groundbreaking new hardware, we did get a glimpse into the future of AR, VR, and AI. Meta’s Orion AR glasses are still a few years away, but the company is already pushing the envelope with its AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses and budget-friendly VR headsets. And with AI becoming more integrated into our everyday lives, it’s clear that Meta is betting big on the future of augmented reality and artificial intelligence.

In the meantime, if you’re in the market for some new tech, the Quest 3S and updated Ray-Ban glasses are worth keeping an eye on. They may not be as futuristic as the Orion glasses, but they’re a solid step in that direction. And who knows? By the time the Orion glasses finally drop, we might all be living in a world where AI is as common as smartphones.