Meta 'bets' on AI to make leap into virtual metaverse

CEO Mark Zuckerberg described these products as a blend of the virtual and real worlds , emphasizing that this is part of Meta's effort to bring low-cost or completely free AI-integrated products into users' daily tasks.

At the Meta Connect product launch event on September 27th, Zuckerberg announced that the new generation of Ray-Ban smart glasses would begin shipping on October 17th, priced at $299.

Smart glasses produced by Meta in collaboration with RayBan. Photo: Reuters

This wearable device will integrate an AI assistant developed by Meta, capable of live streaming what the wearer is seeing to Facebook and Instagram, a significant improvement over the photo-taking feature of its predecessor.

Meanwhile, the new Quest mixed reality wearable will begin shipping on October 10th. Additionally, parent company Facebook also introduced the Meta AI chatbot, capable of generating text and image responses.

"Sometimes we invent something that never existed before. And there are times when the company innovates on expensive things, making them accessible to everyone at an affordable cost, or even for free," said the founder of the world's largest social network.

Meta's AI assistant is developed based on a custom model from the large language model Llama 2, which the company commercially released in July 2023. Zuckerberg said the chatbot has the ability to access real-time information, through a partnership with Microsoft's Bing search engine.

Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, told Reuters that the company has taken steps to filter private details from AI training data, as well as setting limits on what the tool can generate, such as images of famous people.

AI Customization Platform

Meta says it is building a platform that developers, as well as ordinary users, can use to create custom AI bots with Instagram and Facebook profiles, before they appear as "avatars" in the metaverse virtual universe.

The Quest 3, manufactured by Meta, continues the company's best-selling VR headset line to date, with a starting price of $499. Photo: Reuters

Bob O'Donnell, head of research at TECHnalysis, commented, "Meta is aiming to profit indirectly from AI, rather than directly from the product," as the company "seems more interested in building a common platform that other developers will use."

Also at the September 27th event, Zuckerberg announced that the Xbox cloud-based game will be available on Quest wearable devices starting this December.

The Quest 3, manufactured by Meta, continues the company's best-selling VR headset line to date and has a starting price of $499.

This product features the same mixed reality technology as the Quest Pro – the premium version launched last year – allowing wearers to display a video feed of the real world around them, reducing feelings of being "closed off" and increasing comfort for extended wear.

(According to Reuters and CNBC)

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