The weight of this is just such a game changer.

It's comfortable.

Yep.

A hundred grams.

This is a big deal.

Wow.

It's super sleek already.

This side and no cable.

Yeah.

I mean, it's freedom. Yeah.

Oh, your Kodak avatars.

He is 3D.

Yeah.

That's nuts.

Can you wink at me?

No way.

The multitasker in me is loving this.

This is pretty crazy that I can do four things at once.

The head tracking is good.

The brightness is good.

The color contrast is good.

Field of view is excellent.

I see it super clear.

It's crazy responsive.

Learning with these will be amazing, like piano would be an insane experience.

Amazing, yeah.

Yo, this is crazy.

That's crazy.

That's crazy.

This is like breaking the four minute mile.

It's so fast.

Tracking is extremely good.

Such good sound design too.

Wow, and she's so clear.

When this became the television, that became the radio.

Yep.

That's what's coming next.

Yeah.

This is the coolest thing.

So cool.

That's cool.

This game is so fun.

I am not going to lose this game.

I'm playing with a 3D avatar.

I see you're very focused now.

Yeah, very focused.

You really do kind of feel like a superhero.

Like a new sense, new dimension.

Wow.

This can be just a whole new world.

So, Meta just dropped some big news at their 2024 MetaConnect event, and it's pretty mind-blowing.

We've all been waiting to see what their next move would be after pushing the boundaries of VR with products like the MetaQuest series.

Now, they've introduced their first true AR glasses, dubbed Orion.

Let's just say this might be the beginning of the future we've all been dreaming of.

Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Orion AR glasses, a product 10 years in the making, describing them as the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.

He hinted that they could very well replace our smartphones in the near future.

But what exactly makes these glasses so special?

Are we really on the verge of a major tech shift?

Let's dive in and explore.

Orion AR, the start of a new era.

Let's break this down.

Orion has been in development for nearly a decade, and while the goal at the beginning wasn't fully revealed, it's clear now.

Meta wants these AR glasses to replace mobile platforms.

During the event, Zuckerberg pointed out that while mobile technology offers portability, it has its limitations.

It was never meant to be the endgame in the tech race.

Now, the world is looking at AR to take over as the next big computing platform.

Zuckerberg and his team made a compelling case.

AR glasses like Orion will allow users to place holograms in the real world, creating an entirely new level of interaction with our digital and physical spaces.

Imagine playing virtual games, collaborating on work projects, or even watching movies in what feels like a full-size theater, all through these glasses.

What exactly are the Orion AR glasses?

First off, these aren't your everyday smart glasses, like the ones we've seen from Snap or Google in the past.

Meta is aiming way beyond that.

The Orion AR glasses are basically a wearable computer, complete with holographic displays that float in your field of view, thanks to micro-LED projectors inside the frame.

You get a 70-degree field of view, meaning you can have multiple virtual screens in front of you and interact with them.

No need for a phone, tablet, or even your hands.

Zuckerberg emphasized how these glasses integrate with Meta AI, their custom-built AI assistant, which can help users with everything from organizing their day to suggesting recipes based on what's in their fridge.

It's designed to be hands-free and seamlessly integrated into your day-to-day life.

During his presentation, Zuckerberg demonstrated how you could open multiple tabs or apps and rearrange them by simply moving your hands.

This is where it starts to feel like something straight out of Minority Report.

How does it work?

During the MetaConnect keynote, Zuckerberg showed off one of the most futuristic elements of Orion, neural control.

Using a wristband that interprets electrical signals from your brain, these glasses respond to your thoughts and gestures.

This means you can control your virtual displays without physically touching anything.

Just think about moving your hands a certain way, and Orion will follow your commands.

Zuckerberg joked on stage, we're getting closer to a world where you can do things just by thinking about them.

And while that might sound like a joke, it's actually one of the most groundbreaking aspects of this tech.

Imagine sitting in a cafe, checking your emails, making a call, or even attending a virtual meeting, all without lifting a finger.

The $10,000 question, why so expensive?

Now, here's the downside, and it's a big one.

Right now, the Orion glasses cost around $10,000 to manufacture.

Yeah, that's a hefty price tag.

Most of the cost comes from the high-end materials used to create the holographic displays, including silicon carbide lenses, which are crucial for their augmented reality experience.

But don't worry.

Zuckerberg assured us that this price will drop once the product becomes consumer-ready.

During his talk, he made it clear that while the glasses are still a prototype, they're working on making them more affordable in the future.

The goal is to have them priced similarly to smartphones or laptops, which is still expensive but much more manageable.

For now, Meta is focusing on internal testing and demoing these glasses to developers.

Zuckerberg explained that they're planning to work with select partners to create a full ecosystem of apps and services before the consumer version hits the market.

Will these glasses replace smartphones?

One of the most exciting things Zuckerberg hinted at was the potential for these glasses to replace smartphones altogether.

Instead of pulling out your phone to check notifications, you'll be able to see and respond to everything right in front of you in augmented reality.

Zuckerberg even suggested that with the rise of AI and AR, traditional devices like laptops and smartphones might start to feel outdated.

During the MetaConnect keynote, he demonstrated taking a video call where the other person appeared as a life-size avatar in front of him.

It was surreal.

Imagine holding a full conversation with someone who feels like they're standing right in front of you while you're miles apart.

This is where the power of augmented reality truly shines, making digital interactions feel more human.

Different levels of AR glasses Zuckerberg noted that not all AR glasses are created equal.

There will be a range of smart glasses available, from simpler heads-up displays to more complex full holographic AR glasses.

While the high-end models might be bulkier and more expensive, they'll offer a far more immersive experience than their lighter, less feature-rich counterparts.

Even though mixed-reality headsets like the MetaQuest exist, they won't replace AR glasses anytime soon.

These glasses, especially Orion, aim to be more fashion-forward, lighter, and integrated into daily life.

That's why Meta is working on partnerships with designers like Luxottica, the makers of Ray-Ban, to ensure these glasses are not only functional but also stylish.

How does it stack up against competitors?

Meta is clearly aiming high with Orion, but they're not the only ones in the AR game.

Apple, Snap, and Google are also pushing forward with their own augmented reality products.

For example, Apple is rumored to be developing their Apple Glass product, and Snap is working on a fifth generation of its own AR glasses.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the competition during his presentation, but said that what sets Orion apart is its integration with Meta AI and its advanced holographic display.

While other AR glasses have had limited functionality, like just recording video or showing simple notifications, Orion is trying to be a complete immersive system.

It's a full AR ecosystem that could potentially replace the way we interact with digital content altogether, the future of everyday life with Orion.

If these glasses become mainstream, they could completely revolutionize how we work, learn, and play.

Picture a world where surgeons use AR glasses to overlay critical information during surgery, or where students can attend a virtual class, where they interact with 3D models of historical events or scientific processes.

Meta has already explored some of these possibilities with MetaQuest, but Orion takes it a step further.

During the MetaConnect demo, Zuckerberg explained that the glasses could be used for everything from gaming to work meetings and even augmented shopping experiences, where you can see how furniture would look in your home before buying it.

The possibilities are limitless.

And let's not forget about the social aspect.

Zuckerberg made a point to show how Orion could transform social interactions.

You could hang out with your friends in AR, share virtual experiences, and even attend live events like concerts or sporting events, where everyone feels like they're in the same space.

Imagine the implications for virtual travel too, where you could experience new places in a highly immersive way without leaving your home.

Challenges on the horizon.

As exciting as all this is, there are still a few significant challenges.

First off, there's the cost.

Even if Meta manages to bring down the price from $10K, it's likely the first consumer models will still be pretty expensive.

And then there's the issue of privacy.

Wearing AR glasses that can record and process information at all times could make people uneasy.

Meta will have to address these concerns before people feel comfortable walking around with this tech.

There's also the challenge of making this technology intuitive and easy to use.

While the neural wristband sounds cool, it's only useful if it works seamlessly.

People won't adopt the glasses if they're clunky or frustrating to use.

Meta will need to put a lot of effort into refining the user experience.

What's next?

It's clear that Meta is in this for the long haul.

Orion is still in its early stages, but it represents a major step forward in the race to bring AR to the masses.

While we probably won't see these glasses in stores anytime soon, Meta is laying the groundwork for a future where AR could be an integral part of everyday life.

For now, we'll have to wait and see how Meta addresses the challenges ahead.

But one thing's for sure.

AR is no longer a gimmick.

With Orion, Meta is trying to make it a real part of how we interact with both the digital and physical worlds.

So, what do you think?

Will you be trading in your smartphone for AR glasses in a few years?

Or is this all still a bit too futuristic for you?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Thanks for watching and I'll catch you in the next one with more mind-blowing updates.