Meta To Debut Costlier Smart Glasses With Display At Annual Event
Meta is expected to double down on AI-powered augmented reality products with new smart glasses at its annual Connect event, even as the company faces scrutiny over its handling of child safety on its social media platforms.
- Date & Time:
- |
- Views: 33
- |
- From: India News Bull
Meta is poised to strengthen its commitment to AI-enhanced augmented reality technology with the introduction of new smart glasses at its upcoming Connect event on Wednesday, amid ongoing concerns regarding its approach to child safety across its social media platforms.
During the event at Meta's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is anticipated to reveal the company's first consumer-ready smart glasses featuring an integrated display. Analysts predict this device will be priced around $800.
Known internally as "Hypernova," the glasses are expected to be marketed as "Celeste," according to analysts. They will incorporate a compact digital display in the right lens for handling basic functions such as notifications.
These new glasses represent Meta's continued effort to maintain relevance in the competitive AI landscape, where the company trails behind competitors like OpenAI and Google's Alphabet division. However, analysts caution that the device's substantial price point might limit consumer adoption.
The product will likely offer fewer advanced features compared to Meta's "Orion" prototype glasses showcased at last year's event, which Zuckerberg described as "the time machine to the future." Meta did not provide an immediate response when contacted for comment about the new eyewear.
Meta, which plans to launch Orion in 2027, currently offers two series of glasses - developed in partnership with Ray Ban and Oakley - that feature artificial intelligence capabilities, cameras, hands-free operation, and livestreaming functionality to Meta's Facebook and Instagram platforms.
Zuckerberg, who has invested more than $60 billion in Meta's augmented reality division since 2020, has stated that smart glasses will serve as the company's primary channel for integrating superintelligence - a theoretical concept where AI capabilities exceed human intelligence across all domains - into everyday life.
In his pursuit to advance in AI development, Zuckerberg has initiated a billion-dollar talent acquisition strategy, actively recruiting researchers from competitor companies, while whistleblowers have alleged that Meta prioritizes profits over user safety.
Reuters reported last month that Meta's AI policies permitted its chatbots to engage children in inappropriate conversations about sex and race. Additionally, whistleblowers claimed earlier this month that Meta researchers were instructed to avoid investigating potential harm to children using its virtual reality technology, allowing the company to claim ignorance of such issues.
Meta previously informed Reuters that it had removed policy sections that allowed chatbots to engage in romantic roleplay with minors.
High Price Tag May Limit Consumer AdoptionDuring the two-day Connect conference, Meta is also expected to unveil its first wristband device that enables users to control the new glasses through hand gestures. Furthermore, an updated Ray-Ban collection featuring improved cameras, extended battery life, and support for new AI functionalities is anticipated, according to analysts.
Meta stands as a rare Big Tech success story in the smart glasses market, having sold approximately two million pairs of its Ray-Ban line manufactured in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica since 2023, in a sector where competing products like Google Glasses have failed to gain traction. Nevertheless, the division continues to report billions in losses.
CNBC has reported that the Hypernova glasses might feature Prada branding, as the Italian fashion house is recognized for its thick frames and arms that could accommodate many necessary components. Prada has not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Despite these developments, analysts suggest that the expected $800 price point for the glasses - substantially higher than the $299 starting price for the Ray-Ban line and $399 for the sportier Oakley glasses - will result in the device capturing only a minimal market share.
"These glasses will be somewhat bulky ... not the most consumer-friendly design. It is also going to be pretty expensive. So the volumes are going to be fairly low," explained Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for International Data Corp's worldwide mobile device tracker.
He estimates the device will sell "a few hundred thousand units at most" but could help attract more developers to create applications for it. "This is a step to eventually build a much-better mass-market headset."
As part of its strategy to engage developers, Meta is also expected to make its smart glasses accessible to third-party developers through a new software development kit.