Meta’s AI and AR Ambitions: What You Need to Know

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is one of the leading companies in developing and applying AI and AR technologies to its products and services. Meta’s vision is to create a metaverse, a digital environment that blends the physical and virtual worlds, where people can connect, work, play, and learn.

Meta has two main segments: Family of Apps, which includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, and Reality Labs, which focuses on building VR and AR devices and experiences.

Meta’s Family of Apps segment uses AI to enhance its features and functions, such as video recommendations, content moderation, personalization, and social commerce. Meta also offers various tools and platforms for developers and creators to build and share AI-powered applications, such as PyTorch, ONNX, Glow, Emu, and Purple Llama.

Meta’s Reality Labs segment develops VR and AR hardware and software, such as the Quest 3 headset, the Ray-Ban smart glasses, and the Horizon platform. Meta plans to launch a new version of its smart glasses with AI onboard next year, which will enable object recognition and text translation. Meta also aims to release its first AR glasses in 2024, followed by more advanced and lighter designs in 2026 and 2028.

Meta faces some challenges and uncertainties in its AI and AR endeavors, such as regulatory scrutiny, privacy concerns, competition, and technical difficulties. Meta also expects to increase its spending on Reality Labs, which posted an operating loss of $10.2 billion in 2021, to fund its long-term growth6.

Despite these challenges, Meta remains optimistic about its future and believes that AI and AR will transform the way people communicate, create, and consume content in the metaverse. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a recent earnings call: "Over the next several years our goal from a financial perspective is to generate sufficient operating income growth from Family of Apps to fund the growth of investment in Reality Labs while still growing our overall profitability".