Meta's Latest Tech Will Make You Feel Like You're Living in a Sci-Fi Movie

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, is diving deeper into the world of virtual and augmented reality with the introduction of the Meta Quest 3S VR headset. Alongside this launch, they teased what they claim to be “the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made.” They also shared updates on their artificial intelligence features powered by large language models, showcasing their commitment to innovation in these tech spaces.

During their presentation at the Meta Connect conference, Meta reflected on their journey, stating, “Five years ago, we announced to the world that we were building AR glasses.” They emphasized that users shouldn’t have to choose between accessing a wealth of information and being engaged in their physical surroundings. This philosophy led to the unveiling of Orion, which they believe will redefine how we interact with both the digital and real worlds.

Meta's Latest Tech Will Make You Feel Like You're Living in a Sci-Fi Movie — Meta’s Latest Tech Will Make You Feel Like You’re Living in a Sci-Fi Movie

Orion is designed to enhance connectivity and presence, allowing users to feel more engaged and empowered in their everyday lives. Meta’s vision is to create a seamless blend of the physical and virtual realms, ensuring that technology enriches our experiences rather than detracting from them. With these advancements, they aim to keep people at the forefront of their innovations.

1. Meta has acknowledged that Orion isn’t going to be available for consumers just yet, but they emphasize that it’s not just a basic research prototype. The company proudly states that it’s one of the most refined product prototypes they’ve ever created, suggesting it’s a genuine glimpse into what could eventually be offered to the public. Instead of rushing to get it on the market, they’ve chosen to prioritize internal development, allowing them to innovate rapidly and enhance the technology, which should lead to a better final product for consumers.

2. The design of the glasses is quite chunky, reminiscent of retro styles rather than modern fashion trends. They connect to a unique central computing unit and a wristband, creating a setup that’s both functional and a bit quirky. The lenses are designed to project what Meta refers to as “holographic displays,” blending both 2D and 3D content; they boast the widest field of view available in any augmented reality headset. Plus, they’re integrated with Meta’s AI platform, which can handle natural language queries and analyze video from the built-in cameras.

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3. While it may take a few years before we see products based on the Orion technology in stores, Meta has also revealed something that’s ready to go: the Meta Quest 3S. This new version of the Meta Quest 3 headset comes at a more affordable price of $299.99, making it a great option for those looking to dive into virtual and mixed reality. Meanwhile, the original Meta Quest 3, which features higher-resolution displays and more storage, has also seen a price drop, now retailing at $499.99.

Meta recently made some exciting announcements during Connect, highlighting enhancements to its Meta AI platform. The introduction of the Llama 3.2 model is a game-changer, enabling new multimodal capabilities that can analyze images and even power a generative AI system. This system allows users to edit photos simply by using natural language commands, making it super user-friendly. Additionally, Meta rolled out a fresh translation tool for its Reels video platform and introduced chatbot features tailored for business users.

One of the standout updates is the introduction of voice-driven conversations. Now, users can ask questions and receive responses from the AI in the voices of various celebrities, including Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Keegan Michael Key, and Kristen Bell. This adds a fun and engaging twist to interactions, making the experience feel more personal and entertaining.

These new AI features are already live across Meta’s platforms, and fans can pre-order the Meta Quest 3S from the official store. Meanwhile, the Orion AR headset is currently being tested internally at Meta, but the company hasn’t provided a timeline for when it will be available to the public. Exciting times are ahead for Meta users!