Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp) has presented its first working prototype of augmented reality glasses, called Orion. The Californian company has outlined its ambitions for products that would allow the virtual world to be integrated into the real world.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg presented this Wednesday an affordable mixed reality headset et the prototype of its first augmented reality glasses at the company’s annual “Connect” conference.
The company also unveiled a series of generative AI-powered features that will be integrated into its devices and social media platforms like Instagram.
Here are some key announcements:
1. Augmented reality glasses
Meta introduced Orion, which the company bills as the world’s most advanced AR glasses weighing less than 100 grams. These transparent glasses allow users to see virtual objects superimposed on their surroundings. Wearers can access WhatsApp and Messenger, make video calls and obtain information about objects in their field of vision.
Meta said Orion is powered by a custom chip and that it is working on a consumer version of the glasses.
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2. An affordable mixed reality headset
Manda revealed an affordable Quest 3S mixed reality headsetwhich will be offered in two storage capacity sizes: the smaller one will cost $299.99 and the larger one will cost $399.99.
The helmet is expected to be available for purchase on October 15.
The company has also slashed the price of its 512GB Meta Quest 3 to $499.99 from $649.99. Meanwhile, the older, higher-end Quest 2 and Quest Pro devices are being retired.
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3. Llama 3.2 multimodal
Meta has announced its first model ofIA multimodal open-sourceLlama 3.2, capable of generating content from image and text prompts.
It also announced lightweight versions of Llama 3.2, capable of running natively on mobile devices.
4. New voice capabilities for Meta AI chatbot
Meta AI will now support voicewith the ability to select celebrity voices like Judi Dench and John Cena. This capability can be accessed via Meta AI on Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and in Instagram direct messages.
5. Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Updates
Meta updates Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with AI tools for reminders and the ability to scan QR codes and phone numbers with voice commands.
The company will also add AI video capability and the ability to perform real-time translation later this year.
