Meta's new smart glasses look like the future | The Vergecast

28 Sep 2024 (2 months ago)

Intro (0s)

The hosts of the Vergecast podcast, Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce, greet the audience. (2s)
Alex Cranz states that he is wearing augmented reality glasses. (15s)
Alex Heath is also wearing a face computer, although the specific type is not disclosed. (31s)

Meta Connect was attended by Alex, Kylie Robinson, and Jay Peters. (41s)
Alex tested the Orion AR glasses and interviewed Mark Zuckerberg. (47s)
There will be a discussion about the events at Meta Connect and the current state of OpenAI. (52s)

Meta has developed a prototype augmented reality (AR) glasses called Orion, which they have been working on for 10 years. (1m49s)
The Orion glasses are not currently available for purchase and cost approximately $10,000 per pair to produce. (1m55s)
The glasses use a combination of technologies, including custom-designed silicon carbide lenses, a separate compute puck that connects wirelessly, and a wristband that uses electromyography (EMG) to interpret neural signals for control inputs. (6m3s)

Meta and Apple share a similar vision for the future of technology, which involves users wearing glasses that overlay digital information onto the real world. (36m10s)
Meta has the resources to continue investing in research and development for this technology, while Apple may have faced challenges in creating a market-ready product within a specific timeframe. (36m28s)
Apple likely has numerous prototypes similar to Meta's Orion in development but prefers not to showcase unfinished products publicly, unlike Meta. (37m5s)

Meta has successfully developed a display technology for AR glasses that surpasses competitors, but it is currently very expensive. (39m36s)
Meta's strategy for AR glasses prioritizes form factor and seamless integration with everyday life, aiming for a device that is equally useful with or without AR features. (43m30s)
Meta's partnership with EssilorLuxottica aims to leverage the eyewear giant's design, manufacturing, and distribution capabilities to bring AR glasses to the mass market, similar to Samsung's rise in the mobile phone market with Android. (53m33s)

Meta previously had a deal with Tom Brady to use his likeness for a chatbot, but the deal was canceled. (1h11m22s)
Meta is paying celebrities to use their voices for AI chatbots. (1h12m2s)
Many social media users are expressing a desire to renegotiate the terms of service agreements, highlighting a power imbalance between users and platforms. (1h12m34s)

OpenAI has transitioned from a research lab to a commercial, for-profit company. (1h23m36s)
OpenAI has raised a significant amount of funding, reaching a valuation exceeding that of Goldman Sachs. (1h23m1s)
This transition has led to a change in OpenAI's internal culture, with an increased emphasis on commercialization and pressure to release products. (1h25m47s)

Johnny Ive, former Apple design chief, confirmed he is working on an AI device with OpenAI. (1h27m52s)
Sony's PS5 Pro has been praised for its improved visuals, particularly in games with ray tracing. (1h32m52s)
Google has received positive reviews for its latest hardware releases, including the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and its TV streamer. (1h34m22s)