Meta held a new product launch and annual developer event called “Meta Connect 2025” at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, and unveiled a new smart glasses called “Meta Ray Ban Display.”
Smart glasses are attracting attention as a next-generation device to replace smartphones, and this is the first smart glasses for consumers equipped with displays. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, said, “This glasses are the only form factor (device) that AI can see and hear what you see and hear, and AI can create what you want, such as images and videos,” adding, “This glasses have a classic style unique to Ray Ban, and are the first AI glasses with a high-resolution display and meta neural band.”
The smart glasses are provided with a wristband called “meta neural band” based on EMG, which can control the device with hand gestures. This allows you to search for menus, call AI, and adjust the music volume with thumb and index fingers, finger slides, double tap, wrist rotation, etc.
Equipped with Meta’s AI chatbot, the user can have real-time conversations and audio is displayed as subtitles on the display. Through this, it also provides a real-time translation function and allows video calls by sharing the other person’s view and view at the same time. It also supports recording and dictation of voice messages, and is equipped with a camera to take photos and videos.
Prices start at $799, and sales will begin in earnest starting with some stores on the 30th. Meta has been developing smart glasses in partnership with global glasses company EssilorLuxottica since 2019 and has been selling them under the brand name Ray Ban.
Last year, it attracted attention by unveiling a prototype of “Orion,” an augmented reality (AR) smart glasses that shows digital information or virtual images in real time.
While ‘Olion’ is expected to be released as early as 2027, the ‘Meta Ray Ban Display’ released on the same day is evaluated as the entire stage of ‘Olion’.
Meta also introduced “Vanguard,” a new pair of smart glasses that provide training data and post-exercise summaries for athletes, and smart glasses with about twice the battery life and better cameras than previous Ray Ban products. In addition, a future function called “conversation focus” will be added to enhance the voice of the person who talks and reduce background noise.
The company has also introduced a virtual reality headset quest called “Horizon TV” that enables users to watch TV programs, sports games, and movies. Zuckerberg said Disney and Universal Pictures will provide content for “Horizon TV.” However, Zuckerberg lost face at the event due to some of his functions, including AI, not working properly.
Zuckerberg tried to demonstrate AI helping the chef make barbecue sauce, but it wasn’t properly demonstrated because AI didn’t recognize it. He also tried to demonstrate using a “meta-ray van display” and talking to Andrew Bosworth, the head of meta technology, but after several attempts, it ended in failure.
Zuckerberg said, “I think it’s because the Wi-Fi isn’t working well,” adding, “I keep making mistakes. This happens too,” he said, moving on.
JENNIFERKIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
