Meta Connect 2024: AR, VR, and the Future of the Metaverse

Back in 2021, Facebook made a bold move by rebranding itself as Meta. Zuckerberg announced that their main focus will be building the Metaverse. Since then, Metaverse has lived through a rise, when many startups aimed to be Metaverse pioneers, and a stagnation, when some companies pivoted towards AI as the new technological frontier, leaving the Metaverse behind. Even Meta itself faced significant challenges, with reports of massive financial losses due to its Metaverse investments. At the same time, the promised Metaverse, as Zuck described it in the very beginning, still needed to be delivered to the users.

Nevertheless, despite these setbacks, Zuckerberg still believes in the idea of the Metaverse. He acknowledges that developing such a digital ecosystem may take years if not decades. Thus, Meta continues to play a leading role in this field, as evidenced by its work on AR and VR technologies at Meta Connect 2024. 

What’s new at Meta Connect 2024

Meta At the end of September, Meta Connect 2024 took place, where the company introduced several novel technologies related to augmented reality, virtual reality, and AI. 

Meet Orion

One of the convention’s most discussed innovations was the Orion AR Glasses prototype. The AR glasses combine the familiar design of regular eyewear with advanced augmented reality features. Orion combines voice input, eye and hand tracking, and a novel EMG wristband to enable users to engage seamlessly with their surroundings. 

"We believe Orion is the most advanced AR glasses ever created,"  - Mark Zuckerberg

At the moment, Orion is not being available to the general public. AR glasses are presently exclusively available to Meta personnel and select users, with no clear schedule for commercial distribution.

Meta Quest 3S

Another news announcement at Meta Connect is Meta Quest 3S. This is a mixed-reality headset that will be available for pre-order on September 25 and will ship on October 15. With Meta Quest 3S, users can listen to music, make spreadsheets, play games with friends, and socialize. Zuckerberg underlined the device's versatility, stating:

 "This is what we're building: not the next gaming platform, but the next computing platform."

Hyperscape

Hyperscape is a technology that seeks to create realistic environments in the Metaverse. Hyperscape uses Gaussian Splatting, a volumetric 3D rendering technique, to generate realistic environments that make viewers feel physically present. This feature is currently in development, but it has the potential to change the way people interact with virtual environments.

Meta AI

Meta AI also captured a lot of attention at the event. Zuckerberg made improvements to make the AI helper more adaptive and user-friendly. It is growing, with over 400 million monthly users and 185 million weekly users interacting with the AI across several platforms. Zuckerberg emphasized enhancements that enhance Meta AI's capabilities and make interactions more intuitive.

"Meta AI can now see and talk," he said, referring to new voice features available on Messenger, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. The AI can respond to human questions orally and analyze images sent over chat, detecting objects and making adjustments as needed.

Ray-Ban Meta

This innovation was not a part of the Meta Connect 2024, but this recent case also represents Meta's vector towards VR/AR. The collaborations with Ray-Ban have resulted in some fantastic smart glasses. 

"With iconic style and the latest in wearable tech, you can capture and share your world with photos, a video call, or a live stream, listen to your favorite playlist, and make a call or text using voice commands – all from your smart glasses. The Meta View app allows you to view, share, and save the photos and videos that you capture from your smart glasses, customize voice controls, and manage your settings." - From Meta website

The future of VR, AR, and the Metaverse

The VR market is rapidly expanding, expected to reach over $22 billion by 2025. Speaking about Meta, the revenue from selling AR/VR glasses is growing every year. One of the key reasons for the growing popularity of VR is its increasing affordability, making it accessible to a wider range of consumers. Devices like Meta Quest have been priced significantly lower than many high-end tech gadgets, opening the door for casual consumers, gamers, and even educational sectors to experiment with immersive experiences. 

In contrast to VR, AR devices, despite having immense potential, are prohibitively expensive at their most. Thus, they are out of reach for regular consumers. Another problem with AR devices is the lack of audience for which they were designed.

The recent Apple’s Vision Pro’s starting price has exceeded $3,000. It’s viewed more as a luxury product than a mass-market solution. Dr. Jonathan Reichental, in his article for Forbes, claimed:

"Not long after purchasing and overcoming the novelty factor, many users began pondering how they might use the device. This was compounded by the lack of Vision Pro-specific applications and media."

Similarly, Google Glass, one of the first AR devices to be released, struggled with adoption, largely because of its steep price and unclear value proposition for everyday consumers. These pricing strategies have kept AR devices from achieving the same mainstream success as VR, limiting their impact and reach.

Since access to Meta’s Orion remains limited, questions arise about its future. First, will Meta be able to make this technology broadly available, or is it another long-term aim that may take years to achieve? Second, what will be the sale outcomes?

VR/AR devices are considered the main devices that access the Metaverse. The availability and clear purpose of devices are the keys to increasing awareness and adoption of the Metaverse. If AR devices remain expensive, they will continue to be limited to niche markets, and their potential will remain unnoticed. Thus, the faster companies can bring these technologies to a larger audience, the quicker the Metaverse will grow and become a central part of our digital world.