Meta’s augmented and virtual reality division, Reality Labs, is preparing for a landmark year as 2025 approaches. Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the growing intensity in the smart glasses market, calling the rising competition a signal of industry evolution.
The tech giant’s AI-powered Ray Ban smart glasses have captured the attention of millions, with over two million pairs sold since their launch in October 2023. These sleek, wearable gadgets have now expanded globally, recently becoming available for pre-orders in India in various designs, including the newly launched Skyler frame, priced between Rs 29,900 and Rs 35,700.
According to Bosworth, the success of the Ray Ban line marked a turning point. “Suddenly, we go from toiling in the realms of obscurity to being very much in the world with a product that is very attractive to consumers, and thus competitors,” he remarked. “The clock has started on competition coming, and that just means that the progress we make in this year is of disproportionate value to any year before or after it closes.”
The race is heating up as Google recently revealed its collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to develop smart glasses running on its Android XR platform. Meanwhile, Apple is also rumored to be stepping into the scene with its own smart eyewear by next year.
Bosworth reflected on the challenge ahead, stating, “The market is actually, especially when it comes to hardware, a trailing indicator. So you look for early indicators. To some degree, you do have to have a level of confidence and taste in-house.”
He also shared a piece of advice from former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg: “Sheryl used to always talk about how most companies don’t fail because they got beaten by a competitor. Most companies fail because they didn’t execute their own plan correctly.”
As Reality Labs enters this critical phase, Bosworth emphasised internal focus. “What we’ll know by the end of the year is whether we executed on our plan or not. What we’ll know in five years time is whether that was enough.”
The smart glasses can now be synced with smartphones through the Meta AI app, making them more versatile and user-friendly than ever.
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