In a recent interview with YouTuber Cleo Abram, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shed light on the company’s latest innovation: the Orion AR glasses. This cutting-edge device, described as the first-ever full holographic augmented reality glasses, represents a culmination of a decade of research and development. The Orion glasses strive to miniaturize all the necessary computing power to project full holograms into the real world.
When asked about the purpose behind building such a device, Zuckerberg emphasized his belief that Orion AR glasses are poised to be the next major computing platform, following the reign of smartphones. “I think that the trend in computing is it gets more ubiquitous, it gets more natural, and it just gets more social right, so you want to be able to interact with people in the world around you, and I think that this is probably going to be the next major platform after phones,” he stated.
While the Orion AR Glasses are currently in their prototype phase, Zuckerberg expressed optimism that the next iteration will be a consumer-ready product, available to a wider audience. This unveiling took place at the Meta Connect 2024 event, sparking renewed confidence among analysts in Meta’s hardware and XR product roadmap. They acknowledge Meta’s leadership in developing this new computing platform and highlight the potential for Orion to become the next dominant consumer computing platform.
The positive reception of Orion stands in stark contrast to the criticism Meta faced in 2022. When a user pointed out this shift in sentiment, Zuckerberg emphasized his long-term vision and the importance of maintaining a steady course despite market fluctuations. He remarked, “You’re never as good as they say when you’re up, and you’re never as bad as they say when you’re down.”
The Orion AR glasses represent a significant leap forward in augmented reality technology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of computing. If Meta’s vision comes to fruition, these glasses could fundamentally change how we interact with the world and each other.