Meta unveils AR glasses prototype, Zuckerberg’s ‘time machine’ to future
Meta Platforms Inc. showcased its first working prototype of augmented-reality glasses, named Orion, during its annual Connect conference on Wednesday. CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the chunky black glasses, highlighting their potential to merge virtual elements with the physical world.
“This is the physical world with holograms overlaid on it,” Zuckerberg stated, presenting the device from a dramatic metal case. He described Orion as a “time machine,” emphasizing its role as a glimpse into an exciting future of augmented reality.
In addition to the Orion prototype, Meta introduced new AI chatbot capabilities and an entry-level mixed-reality headset, the Quest 3S, which starts at $300. Meta’s stock surged to a record closing high of $568.31, up 0.9%, following the announcements.
The Orion glasses, crafted from magnesium alloy and powered by custom silicon, will allow users to interact through hand-tracking, voice commands, and a wrist-based neural interface. Zuckerberg noted that the company aims to make the device smaller, sleeker, and more affordable before its planned consumer release in 2027.
Despite the ambitious vision, analysts like Paolo Pescatore from PP Foresight caution that user skepticism about AI remains a barrier to widespread adoption. The glasses’ capabilities were not demonstrated live, but a video showcased users, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, reacting to the technology.
Meta has been investing heavily in AR and metaverse technologies, pouring tens of billions into development. However, its Reality Labs unit reported a loss of $8.3 billion in the first half of this year, continuing a trend from the previous year.
In a move to enhance its product lineup, Meta also announced AI enhancements to its Ray-Ban smart glasses, including features like QR code scanning and music streaming via voice prompts. New updates will allow real-time language translation and audio responses from a digital assistant that can mimic celebrities’ voices.
With over 400 million monthly users for its AI services, Meta is focused on making virtual and augmented reality accessible to a broader audience, despite the challenges ahead in an evolving tech landscape.
