Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, has unveiled a range of new AI products for consumers. These products include the Ray Ban smart glasses, an updated virtual-reality headset, and a generative AI assistant. The Meta AI assistant, known as Meta AI, is a key part of their offerings. It can generate both text responses and photo-realistic images and will be integrated into their smart glasses. Initially, it will have a beta rollout in the United States, with plans for further enhancements, such as object identification and language translation, in a future software update. The AI assistant will also have access to real-time information through a partnership with Microsoft’s Bing search engine.
Meta is launching a new generation of its Ray Ban smart glasses, set to begin shipping on October 17th. These glasses, priced at $299, feature the Meta AI assistant and can livestream what the user is seeing directly to Facebook and Instagram. This represents an improvement over the previous generation, which could only capture photos.
The latest version of Meta’s Quest mixed-reality headset is scheduled to start shipping on October 10. Although specific details about the headset are not provided in this excerpt, it is mentioned that Meta’s Quest is considered a strong contender in the VR market.
Mark Zuckerberg emphasised Meta’s commitment to making advanced AI technology more affordable and accessible to everyone. He described their products as bringing together the virtual and real worlds, with a focus on offering low-cost or free AI solutions.
Meta’s Global Affairs President, Nick Clegg, mentioned efforts to protect user data and privacy during the training of the AI model. They have excluded datasets with heavy personal information and imposed restrictions on what the AI can generate, including a ban on creating realistic images of public figures. These measures are aimed at ensuring privacy and responsible use of AI technology.