Meta Unveils AI-Enabled Orion Augmented Reality Glasses

Meta’s recently announced Orion glasses have been introduced as “the most advanced pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses ever made.” With its new wearable gadget the Facebook and Instagram parent-company aims to provide a seamless bridge between the virtual and physical worlds via unmatched holographic displays and an AI-powered virtual assistant.

In recent years, Meta has invested much of its efforts into the development of XR (extended reality) devices like the Quest virtual reality headset, which is already in wide circulation. However, instead blocking out the physical realm, the company’s new AR concept will superimpose digital interfaces into surroundings through highly advanced lenses. Meta claims that the specs offer the “largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date.”

The Orion’s the miniaturized technology was developed over several years of experimentation and innovation. Meta then enlisted eyewear brand Ray-Ban to package the device into a sleek and wearable frame. With a market now primed for immersive wearable tech, Meta and its competitors are racing to define the space with new devices, like Apple’s bulkier Vision Pro headset.

The company has also shared that assistive Meta AI features will play an integral role in the user experience by offering 3D visualizations, object recognition abilities, and the conversational AI interactions that consumers have become familiar with through chatbots like ChatGPT.

The Orion glasses are still in the prototype stage, so customers won’t be getting their hands on the product for another few years. In the meantime, Meta will be fine-tuning the product with feedback and input from Meta employees and limited external groups.

Check out the first images of the Orion glasses in the gallery above and stay tuned for updates on the product from Hypebeast.