Meta CTO: 2025 Pivotal for AR/VR Future
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth believes 2025 is a make-or-break year for the company's augmented and virtual reality division, Reality Labs. In a recent Bloomberg Technology interview, Bosworth stated, "We'll judge at the end of the decade, but this does feel like the pivotal year."
Meta's Ray-Ban AI glasses, having sold over two million units since their October 2023 launch, represent a significant step forward. These smart glasses even outsold traditional Ray-Bans before AI features were implemented. This success has spurred competition, with Google partnering with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker on Android XR-based smart glasses, and Apple reportedly aiming for a 2026 release.
Bosworth acknowledged the heightened competition, stating, "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. 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."
However, competitor activity is irrelevant without market adoption. Bosworth emphasized the importance of market acceptance for driving industry standardization of AR/VR technology. He noted, "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."
Sheryl [Sandberg] 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.
Bosworth highlighted Meta's focus on internal execution. He stated that the company has ambitious plans for the year and is currently on track. He added, "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 success of Meta's AR/VR endeavors hinges on both market response and the company's ability to deliver on its ambitious roadmap. 2025 will be a crucial year in determining the future of this technology.
