Meta's Ambitious Plan: Six New AI Wearables Set to Launch in 2025

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta May Launch 6 New AI Wearables This Year: Report Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Set To Launch Six New AI Wearables This Year. 2025 Seen As A Critical Year For Meta's Reality Labs. - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

Meta Platforms Inc. META is reportedly planning to roll out six innovative wearable devices powered by AI launching in 2025., as revealed in an internal memo from CTO, Andrew Bosworth. What Happened: Meta's CTO, Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, announced in an internal memo that the company will be launching six new AI-enabled wearable devices this year. In the memo titled "2025: The Year of Greatness," Bosworth underscored the significance of this year for Meta's Reality Labs. Bosworth stated, "This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure." The memo was viewed by Business Insider. Meta's Reality Labs, the division that oversees the company's AR and VR projects, recently reported a record revenue of $1.08 billion in the fourth quarter. However, the division also posted its biggest-ever quarterly operating loss of $4.97 billion, with total losses reaching about $60 billion since 2020. Meta has been actively working to enhance the efficiency of its Reality Labs which also includes placing key executives under its core leadership. Meta did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment. SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg's Meta To Begin Mass Layoffs Next Week, Speeds Up Hiring Of Machine Learning Engineers: Report Why It Matters: This announcement comes as part of Meta's ongoing efforts to advance its wearable technology lineup. In the memo, Bosworth mentioned, "We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long-term plans to have a chance." Notably, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company is focusing on integrating displays into its Ray-Ban smart glasses by 2025, positioning itself as a frontrunner in augmented reality (AR) and wearable computing. Furthermore, Meta is also reportedly working on Oakley-branded smart glasses and exploring new AI-powered devices, including smartwatches and earbuds with built-in cameras for cyclists and athletes. Despite years of mixed results in the wearable space, Meta has continued to focus on innovative launches in its augmented reality and AI-driven computing segment. In 2025, the company has planned to invest between $60 billion and $65 billion towards capital expenditures to expand its AI-backed computing infrastructure. READ MORE: Apple Watch Users Are Strapping Them To Their Ankles -- Here's Why Its Leaving Some People Bewildered Image via Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. METAMeta Platforms Inc$720.200.79%Overview Rating:Speculative50%Technicals Analysis660100Financials Analysis400100WatchlistOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Meta plans to launch six new AI wearables in 2025: What you need to know

In a major push to AI wearables, Meta is planning to unveil at least half a dozen new devices this year, as per a leaked memo. Recently, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company aims to ship millions and "eventually" billions of AI glasses in the time to time. A leaked memo, titled "2025: The Year of Greatness," from Meta's Reality Labs head Andrew Bosworth was shared by Business Insider on Thursday. In the document, Bosworth claimed that Meta was "pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables." This memo was reportedly sent to the staff members in November last year. But Bosworth mentioned in the memo that the company needs to "drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR (mixed reality)." If all goes as planned, then the unveiling of six new AI wearables in a single calendar year would go on to break the company's hardware record. Also Read : Tom Cruise pursues this new activity in an effort to defy aging, experts say it could be 'risking death' Meta last year introduced the revamped version of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses as well as the Meta Quest 3S. During a fourth-quarter earnings call of the company, Zuckerberg had even teased about the "third-generation" smart glasses technology. If rumours are to be believed, the company is currently working on a pair of Oakley-styled AR glasses, which are being specifically designed for athletes. The glasses are said to being developed with internally dubbed Hypernova and heads-up display. According to Gizmodo, the other products from Meta could focus on different glasses styles, similar to the Ray-Ban smart glasses, which are available in varities like "Wayfarer," "Headliner," and "Skyler". In the memo, Meta indicates that it will still push the metaverse, which includes Horizon Worlds. "Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance," Bosworth stated. He went on to add that Horizon Worlds could "go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure." Also Read : DeepSeek restricts access to its AI model -- What's behind the move? While the company has not shared enough data about the state of Horizon Worlds since a long time now, its usage had dropped from 5,00,000 users to 2,00,000 in 2022. This was way below the company's own target of 2,80,000 users. 1. What is Horizon Worlds? The virtual reality game was Meta's maiden attempt at a "metaverse" living world. 2. What's are Meta's future plans in AI? Meta is said to be planning to introduce six new AI wearables in 2025.

Meta is hell-bent on making 2025 the year of smart glasses -- and I've never been more ready

Meta's Ray-Ban glasses might just be the beginning of its future plans. (Image credit: Getty Images) Mixed reality is already a hot niche, but if a leaked roadmap from Meta is any indication, it's about to get even hotter. According to a memo unearthed by Business Insider, Meta's Andrew Bosworth ("Boz" as he's known) says that there are lots of AI gadgets in store for the year ahead. "Next year is going to be the most critical year in my eight years at Reality Labs. We have the best portfolio of products we've ever had in the market and are pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI-powered wearables," said Bosworth in a memo according to Business Insider. "AI-powered wearables," as we've learned over the past year, can mean a lot of things, but if there's one category I'm almost certain Meta has its eye fixed on, it's smart glasses. It's no secret that Meta is big on mixed reality. It's poured billions into carving out a niche for its Quest headsets, creating a whole new category and ditching the likes of Apple and Samsung in its wake. But just because headsets have been a magnet for R&D dollars doesn't mean they're the only device on the menu. Increasingly, smart glasses are becoming a category in their own right. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg revealed last week that the company sold 1 million units of its Meta Ray-Ban glasses last year, which isn't too shabby for a product category that's still technically finding its footing. While Bosworth doesn't cite smart glasses specifically in the leaked memo, it wouldn't be too much of a leap to assume that the category will be a major part of its vision of an AI wearable -- especially since the addition of Meta AI to the glasses late last year. What its potential plans for smart glasses will look like is anyone's guess, but there's already some evidence that they could make Meta's Ray-Bans a lot more sophisticated. According to a Financial Times report from December, Meta has plans to add a display to its glasses, which would be a significant step toward making a pair of smart glasses that feels smart. As I've written previously, I'm a big fan of Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, which are surprisingly useful for taking calls, navigation, audio playback, and taking pictures, but there's still always a minor disappointment when I tell people they lack a display. Adding one might finally convince potential buyers who are on the fence but waiting for the smart glasses to feel truly smart. And the most exciting part of all this is that with six new AI wearables in the works, Ray-Ban glasses might not be the only thing to get excited over. It's hard to say where else Meta will expand its ambitions, but I personally wouldn't mind seeing a device similar to what Xreal offers, which is to say a lightweight pair of AR glasses that doubles as a big virtual screen. Yes, the Quest already does this, but bringing that ability to a form factor with a much lower footprint -- that is to say, not a headset that covers your face -- is a lot more convenient. Which brings me to my next point... As important as headsets are to the current crop of Meta hardware, it's clear that strapping a computer to your face is not the ultimate goal. If that wasn't clear enough already, Meta hammered that home this past October in its annual Connect conference by revealing its vision for our mixed reality future: Project Orion. In case you missed it, Project Orion is a novel, if still experimental, pair of holographic AR glasses, that combine the ability of a Quest into a form factor that's only a bit bigger than a pair of normal glasses. For lots of reasons -- miniaturization of components for one -- that reality is a ways off still, but at the end of the day, that's what mixed reality titans like Meta are working toward. Perhaps the most exciting part of Meta's push into mixed reality, or AI wearables as Bosworth put it, is that with enough investment and ingenuity, Meta stands to crack smart glasses wide open. And if rumors are true, it's not the only company that is devoting resources to trying. Samsung is rumored to be developing its own pair of smart glasses which could be released this year and Apple has been trying its hand as well. The latter of the two companies, however, is reportedly shelving its plans for smart glasses for unknown reasons -- tepid response to the Vision Pro and cost could be two major reasons. So, that leaves Meta and maybe Samsung in the game, and only one of those companies actually has a product you can buy right now. It's obviously too early to say how Meta's plans to ship more AI wearables will go in 2025, but if there's one tech company with enough interest and funds to make it work, my money is on Meta. Here's to hoping that Bosworth puts Meta's money where its mouth is and finally cracks the code to the future-leaning smart glasses we deserve.

Meta may introduce 6 new AI wearables this year

The success or failure of Meta's metaverse efforts depends on what happens in 2025. Meta is doubling down on its metaverse vision, with 2025 shaping up to be a decisive year for its ambitious plans. According to an internal memo from Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, the company plans to launch six new AI-powered wearable devices this year. In a post titled "2025: The Year of Greatness," Bosworth called this year the most critical for Meta's Reality Labs. He emphasised that the success or failure of Meta's metaverse efforts depends on what happens in 2025. "This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure," he wrote in the internal memo viewed by Business Insider. Meta's Reality Labs, which handles the company's AR and VR projects, recently reported record revenue of $1.08 billion in Q4 2024. However, the division also posted its biggest-ever quarterly operating loss of $4.97 billion, with total losses reaching about $60 billion since 2020. To improve efficiency, Meta recently reorganised Reality Labs and moved key executives under Meta's core leadership. Also read: Meta accused of using pirated books for training AI with Mark Zuckerberg's approval Below is the full memo Bosworth sent to employees: 2025: The Year of GreatnessNext year is going to be the most critical year in my 8 years at Reality Labs. We have the best portfolio of products we've ever had in market and are pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables. We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance. If you don't feel the weight of history on you then you aren't paying attention. This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure. I've been re-reading "Insanely Great," Steven Levy's history of the Macintosh computer. If you haven't read it the book chronicles the incredible efforts of individuals working in teams of 1-3 to build a device that more than any other marked the consumer era of personal computing. What I find most fascinating about it is the way that even people who left the program on bad terms (it was not particularly well managed) speak about the work they did there with an immense sense of pride. There was a widespread cultural expectation, set by none other than a young Steve Jobs, that the work needed to be "insanely great." On paper 2024 was our most successful year to date but we aren't sitting around celebrating because know it isn't enough. We haven't actually made a dent in the world yet. The prize for good work is the opportunity to do great work. Greatness is our opportunity. We live in an incredible time of technological achievement and have placed ourselves at the center of it with our investments. There is a very good chance most of us will never get a chance like this again. Greatness is a choice. Many people have been at the precipice of opportunity and failed to achieve. For the most part they failed to even challenge themselves. You should be doing the best work of your career right now. You should be pushing yourself to grow where needed and doubling down on your strengths. When you look back on this time I want you to feel like you did everything in your power to make the most of it. You don't need big teams to do great work. In fact, it may make it harder. One trend I've observed the last couple of years is that our smaller teams often go faster and achieve better results than our more generously funded teams. Not only that, they are much happier! In small teams there is no risk of falling into bad habits like design by committee. You should be so focused on results that being in a bunch of docs or meetings is too frustrating to bear. The path is clear. You don't need to come up with a bunch of new ideas to do this great work. Most people in the organization just need to execute on the work laid out before them to succeed. It is about operational excellence. It is about master craftsmanship. It is about filling our products with "Give A Damn". This is about having pride in our work.

Meta Promises to Launch 'Half a Dozen' AI Wearables in 2025

With Ray-Ban Meta’s popularity, Meta execs claim they will finally fulfill the promise of Horizon Worlds with more AI wearables. Meta’s executives are so in on AI wearables, the company plans to unleash six new mixed reality devices this year, according to a leaked memo. The tech industry is still grappling with the massive flop of the “metaverse"; even as the company’s engineers and execs attempt to sell us on the benefits of AI chatbots on your face, Meta can’t get over its last missteps with Horizon Worlds. Silicon Valley normally works in waves, and judging by the recent annual Consumer Electronics Show, the tide is dragging us all toward a deep, black ocean of AI wearables. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg already promised investors the moon and more, saying the company’s goal is to ship hundreds of millions and “eventually†sell “billions†of AI glasses. On Thursday, Business Insider shared a leaked memo from Meta’s Reality Labs head Andrew “Boz†Bosworth titled “2025: The Year of Greatness.†In it, Bosworth claims the company is “pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables.†The memo was sent to staff in November, so plans could have changed in the meantime. Six new AI wearables in a single year would smash Meta’s hardware record for any other year. In 2024, the company launched its revamped Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the Meta Quest 3S. Zuckerberg teased “third-generation†smart glasses technology during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. Recent reports from Bloomberg have hinted Meta is now working on a pair of sports-centric Oakley-styled AR glasses for athletes. These reports further hint the company is developing glasses with a heads-up display, internally dubbed Hypernova. The other products could simply be different glasses styles, much like the Ray-Ban smart glasses that come in “Wayfarer,†“Skyler,†and “Headliner†varieties. The more expensive $370 versions include transition lenses. However, Boz further mentioned “we need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR [AKA mixed reality].†This hints that Meta wants to drop more products with displays, akin to Project Orion true AR glasses the company showed off at Meta Connect last year. What this doesn’t suggest is any new VR helmet in the works. Bloomberg previously reported Meta is working on two new Quest headsets, one of which might be a sequel to the short-lived Quest Pro. Either way, the glasses seem more of a shoo-in for 2025. These plans for “Greatness†also include Horizon Worlds, Meta’s first attempt at a “metaverse†living world that was so dull it made the 2003 game Second Life seem like a roller coaster thrill ride by comparison. “Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance,†Bosworth continued. “If you don’t feel the weight of history on you then you aren’t paying attention. This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure.†The memo is full of hyperbole and corporate speech so thick Weird Al Yankovich could use it to conceive a sequel to his parody jingle Mission Statement. Nowhere does Bosworth even mention the word “metaverse,†which is interesting considering the entire company was named after that previous attempt to become "visionaries" in tech. The weight of history crushed those designs on a shared VR universe, mostly because nobody wants to spend more than an hour or two strapped into a VR device. Smart glasses make much more sense from a usability standpoint, though we have yet to see a pair that makes good on the promise of wearable computers. Apple was reportedly working on a similar pair of mixed-reality spectacles, though the latest hints from reliable sources suggest the company killed off its planned AR glasses. The company was reportedly stumped by the need for processing power and battery life. Considering Apple’s missteps, Meta needs to prove it can do more than offer an AI chatbot for your face.

Meta to launch 'half a dozen' new AI wearables in 2025

A leaked memo from Meta reveals the company's plans to launch quite a few new wearable products in 2025, presumably largely focusing on glasses and headsets. As obtained by Business Insider, a memo from Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth offers a hint into the company's plans for hardware in 2025. The memo, shared as a post on Meta's internal forum as a post titled "2025: The Year of Greatness," reveals that 2024 was Meta's "most successful year to date" around hardware devices. Bosworth explains that Meta will be "pushing our advantage" with the launch of "half a dozen" new AI wearables in 2025. The "advantage" referred to likely relates back to Meta's successful Ray-Ban smart glasses as well as the Meta Quest series. Next year is going to be the most critical year in my 8 years at Reality Labs. We have the best portfolio of products we've ever had in market and are pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables. We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance. If you don't feel the weight of history on you then you aren't paying attention. This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure. What will these new products be? It's been reported that Meta will be launching a new pair of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2025 with a built-in display, and there's also the ongoing rumor that a pair of earbuds with a built-in camera could be coming as well. Meta will also face bigger competition in 2025, as Google's Android XR platform hopes to usher in a new wave of XR products, including glasses with a display.

Leaked Meta memo calls 2025 a make-or-break year for Reality Labs - but multiple new AI glasses and mixed-reality apps could be coming to save it

The memo says 2025 will decide if Reality Labs' efforts "will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure" Following Mark Zuckerberg's comments about 2025 being a "defining year" for Meta's smart-glasses plans, a leaked internal memo apparently penned by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth is teasing some big things for the XR and AI tech its Reality Labs division is working on. Shared by Business Insider, the memo is reportedly titled "2025: The Year of Greatness" and was sent to Reality Labs staff in November last year. It's quite long, and features a fair bit of corporate motivational speak which isn't all that relevant here, but here's a snippet from the beginning of the leaked memo - I've highlighted some important text I'll be discussing more below: "Next year is going to be the most critical year in my 8 years at Reality Labs. We have the best portfolio of products we've ever had in market and are pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables. We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance. If you don't feel the weight of history on you then you aren't paying attention. This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure." So we might see six AI wearables, a tentpole mixed-reality title, and a serious Horizon Worlds push. Starting with that final highlighted section however, which raises the prospect of failure on the part of Reality Labs failure, it should be noted that Bosworth's comments aren't as overly dramatic as they seem. While Reality Labs posted its highest-ever revenue of $1.08 billion in Meta's recent quarterly earnings report, it also posted its biggest ever loss at $4.97 billion. The division has been hemorrhaging cash since 2020 in the pursuit of developing XR and AI tech, and Bosworth's comments suggest that Meta and its investors finally want to see a return on their investment. Thankfully for Reality labs, the memo also teases how that might happen. Taken literally, Bosworth's "half a dozen" comment suggests that Meta has six AI wearables up its sleeve - and it sounds like they're set to launch this year. If that's correct, this is significantly more than expected. Based on leaks and teases we were expecting two 2025 hardware launches, maybe three at a push: the third-gen Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses teased by Mark Zuckerberg (which could include a display), Oakley versions of its existing second-gen AI smart glasses, and perhaps Oakley versions of its third-gen specs. Beyond these we'd heard that Meta was developing some kind of smartwatch/wristband to control its glasses, and even camera-equipped earbuds - marking wearables four and five off our list - however, the earbuds weren't expected to land anytime soon. Meanwhile the wristband was believed to be more of an add-on than a full-on AI wearable, so perhaps there are even more unknown AI Metra gadgets set to launch. Based on what we think we know about Meta's release schedule our money is on Bosworth not just talking about 2025 releases - as we know that Meta has other glasses on the way, including the consumer versions of its Meta Orion AR glasses - and that he was using "half a dozen" as a synonym for 'several' rather than a precise figure for Meta's output. Given that the line is taken from a leaked internal memo rather than an official statement it's not so important for Bosworth to speak precisely, which is why we're leaning this way. If, however, Meta is indeed releasing more glasses than expected, our best guess is that we'll either see Ray-Ban and (the rumored) Oakley joined by a third brand adapting Meta's smart glasses tech into their designs; or that, rather than the third-gen smart glasses and display-equipped specs being one and the same product, it could be they're different devices, to give the line both a high-end and affordable refresh. Mixed reality - which has an app on a VR headset blend real-life and virtual elements into a single experience - has been on a major upswing since the launch of affordable full-color mixed-reality headsets like the Meta Quest 3. Unfortunately, beyond some fun and innovative, but admittedly limited, experiences in the likes of Starship Home and Infinite Inside, as well as some delightful mixed-reality modes in larger VR titles, there's yet to be a tentpole MR game or app in the same way as the main campaigns of VR titles Asgard's Wrath 2, Batman: Arkham Shadow, or Resident Evil 4 VR. Bosworth's comments suggest that Reality Labs is helping to publish some major mixed-reality releases this year that get closer to making MR feel as fully realized as VR. Admittedly, these experiences likely won't be on the scale of something like Batman: Arkham Shadow - given that MR titles are inherently more limited by the player's space - but an MR Focus, and some AA-level MR titles (vs meta's AAA-quality VR games) could be incoming, and I'm excited to see what 2025 has in store beyond what we know about already (including games such as Laser Dance, which are looking awesome already). Since its launch, Horizon Worlds hasn't really been much to write home about - in fact I wasn't entirely aware that it had even launched on mobile yet. I only use it about once or twice a year to check out some concert in VR before letting it gather dust on my virtual game shelf. But I do know that Meta has been working on expanding the scope of Horizon Worlds, with not only player-made but game developer-made worlds for users to explore, and I'm cautiously optimistic that the game might finally feel like a complete package - which I can't say was how I felt when it was first released. Meta is likely hoping that its metaverse platform can steal away some of the success of the massively popular Roblox and Fortnite, with which Horizon Worlds shares several similarities, and more emphasis on Horizon Worlds' mobile port would help to reach audiences who have yet to buy a VR headset. It's been somewhat surprising to see Meta fail so miserably so far with Horizon Worlds given its social media-focused history with Facebook and Instagram, but perhaps 2025 is the year it finally turns the metaverse around. I'm cautiously optimistic that it might finally make the platform into something I care about, but I'm not holding my breath.

Meta CTO says company could see a 'legendary misadventure' in 2025 -- here's why I'm not worried

The future of Meta and its push for mixed-reality products to become the norm is hanging in the balance, as Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth claims 2025 will be Reality Lab's "most critical year." In a leaked post spotted by Business Insider, Bosworth states Meta needs to focus on sales in its portfolio of products this year, especially in MR (mixed reality), if its long-term plans are to succeed. In fact, the CTO claims 2025 will be so crucial that it will determine if the company's efforts "will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure." Bosworth also claims that "Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out," despite fears of the metaverse never being viable. The leaked memo was sent to Meta employees, aiming to drive urgency to Meta's future plans. It's clearly a critical point for the company, as the CTO even says: "If you don't feel the weight of history on you then you aren't paying attention." As noted in the post, Meta is set to launch six AI-powered wearables down the pipeline. This is likely referring to the company's rumored first "real" AR glasses in 2027, along with higher-end AR glasses similar to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that could arrive this year. Recently, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reported on the state of its AI smart glasses in a leaked all-hands meeting, with the company selling over one million units in 2024. While he states it's a "great start," it will still see an "intense year." Meta has a big year ahead, and while it's seen plenty of success, including its Reality Labs division posting a record $1.08 billion in revenue, there's clearly more work to be done, seeing as the mixed-reality department saw a quarterly operating loss of $4.97 billion. However, if the past year is anything to go by, I'm not worried about the fate of Meta's plans. Meta may have had some bumps on the road, with its Meta Quest Pro being a fine example, but it's already seeing an uptick in its products, features and overall usability for the masses. And this has been reflected in what Bosworth claims: "On paper 2024 was our most successful year to date but we aren't sitting around celebrating because know it isn't enough. We haven't actually made a dent in the world yet. The prize for good work is the opportunity to do great work." Last year, the company made strides with what is possible on its Meta Quest VR headsets, and made it more accessible to everyone with its Meta Quest 3S. I went as far as to say that Meta Quest VR has seen its best year yet, and that's due to the added range of excellent games and apps that will make users want to keep putting on the headset. From Batman: Arkham Shadow proving that exclusive VR games can shine to productivity apps that allow three virtual monitors on a Meta Quest when linked to a Windows 11 PC, Meta appears to be heading in the right direction. Plus, even James Cameron is getting in on the action with exclusive mixed reality content around live sports and concerts, feature films and TV series featuring big-name IPs. Then there's the success of Ray-Ban Meta, being one of the best AI smart glasses around. With more AR wearables in the works, with the upcoming products looking promising thanks to our Meta Orion AR glasses hands-on, the company looks to be on the right track. With rumors of a Meta Quest 4 and even a Meta Quest Pro successor coming up, I hope Meta's plans don't fall flat this year. If it continues to deliver and nail what makes people actually want to use a headset (and add more battery life), then its MR and AR devices should see themselves become the norm.

Meta's CTO Claims 2025 Will Define The Future Of The Metaverse; Fail To Gain Traction, And It Will Be A 'Legendary Misadventure'

The competition when it comes to mixed reality devices is fierce, especially with Apple's Vision Pro and Microsoft's HoloLens, which offer great utility and practicality for users' work and entertainment. While Meta has invested extensively in the Metaverse and has had great ambitions for it, it did not, however, do in the market as expected, as consumers seem to be still skeptical about its practical application. Now, it seems that the company is determined to define the future of its AR/VR and look into whether it needs to continue with its efforts or should bid farewell to the initiatives. While Meta has approached Metaverse with great enthusiasm and promoted it as the future of digital interaction, the company seems to be reevaluating its priorities in AR/VR initiatives due to users' slow response. This year is said to be a defining year for technology and pivotal in assessing whether to continue with the efforts or invest the resources and energy otherwise. Now, the company is going with a more stringent strategy as Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth is said to have given a one-year deadline for the Metaverse to be a success, putting great pressure on the Reality Labs that are responsible for looking over mixed reality devices to show some major progress in order for the tech giant to continue investment in this domain as said in internal forum post via Business Insider. As per the post, Bosworth laid down his expectations for the year: We have the best portfolio of products we've ever had in market and are pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables. We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance. This comes after the leaked all-hands meeting revealed that Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, anticipates a challenging year ahead. He emphasized continuing the efforts to maintain leadership in smart glasses as the market seems to be growing more rapidly and it seems that the Reality Labs' Quest VR headsets are taking a back seat as more priority is being placed on the AR wearables over the complete VR experience. This is going to impact the broader goals regarding the metaverse and the direction the company seeks to continue in. While Bosworth acknowledges that last year was Reality Labs' best year in terms of the products and initiatives, its impact was minimal overall. Due to the increased focus on Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses along with AI capabilities, the division is relatively smaller, but he expects the small team to accelerate efforts and bring more optimal results. He further expressed that the team needs to execute the existing plans rather than chase new ideas. Bosworth, while addressing the future of Horizon Worlds, the company's flagship metaverse platform, in the post, suggests a major turning point by referring to the initiatives as a 'legendary misadventure' if the company fails to gain traction next year, highlighting how 2025 could change drastically Meta's internal strategy and focus areas.

Meta says this is the make or break year for the metaverse

Wes Davis is a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth is giving the metaverse a year to become a hit, according to an internal forum post reported by Business Insider. That time period will determine whether Reality Labs' mixed reality efforts are "the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure," he writes. Bosworth details his expectations early in the post: We have the best portfolio of products we've ever had in market and are pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI powered wearables. We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance. The post comes days after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's recently leaked comments in an all-hands meeting, in which he predicted an "intense year" and emphasized the need to stay in the lead with its smart glasses, which have taken the spotlight away from Reality Labs' Quest headsets. Bosworth says that despite 2024 being the department's best year, Reality Labs hasn't "actually made a dent in the world yet." The group is smaller now in the wake of layoffs and the success of Meta's Ray-bans and AI efforts, but Bosworth wrote that it doesn't "need big teams to do great work" and that he thinks smaller teams have moved faster and produce better results. He closes out the post saying the team doesn't need "a bunch of new ideas," but that most in the group "just need to execute on the work laid out before them to succeed." As for what happens if Horizon Worlds doesn't become a hit in the next year, Bosworth doesn't get more specific than his "legendary misadventure" comment. But it seems unlikely that it'll take off now, making his post feel more like an expiration date than anything else.