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KoreanMeta、Ray-BanブランドではないARスマートグラス発売へ
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冒頭部和訳
Metaが同社のReality Labsハードウェアチームに対し、2026年までに支出を約20%削減するよう要求している、とThe Informationが報じている。MetaのCFOはReality Labs所属の従業員に対し、同社のこれまでの投資規模を踏まえ、AR/VRを1兆ドル規模の商機としてターゲットにするべきだと語った、と伝えられている。
また、ARグラス・ハードウェア担当のCaitlin Kalinowski氏、スマートグラス・ハードウェア担当のSteve McClure氏、デバイス技術エンジニアリング (TED) 担当バイスプレジデントのIngrid Cotoros氏ら、複数のマネージャーやバイスプレジデントが6月末にレイオフされたことも明らかになった。その影響を受けた複数のチームが、他のマネージャーが管理する部署に配置転換となった。
今回のレイオフは、6月にThe Vergeが報じた、Reality Labsの2グループへの再編と一致するものだ。MetaverseグループにはQuestヘッドセット事業が含まれ、新たなWearablesグループにはRay-Banスマートグラスやその他のハードウェアプロジェクトが含まれることになる。
Meta to Launch AR Smart Glasses Without Ray-Ban Branding
Meta has asked its Reality Labs hardware teams to cut spending by almost 20% through 2026, according to The Information. Meta’s CFO reportedly told Reality Labs employees that AR/VR should be targeted as a $1T opportunity given how much the company has invested.
The report also reveals that several directors and vice presidents were laid off at the end of June, including Caitlin Kalinowski, head of AR glasses hardware, Steve McClure, head of smart glasses hardware and Ingrid Cotoros, a VP in charge of technology engineering for devices (TED). The affected teams have been reassigned to other managers.
The layoffs correspond to a restructure of Reality Labs into two groups, which was reported by The Verge in June. The Metaverse group includes the Quest headset line while the new Wearables group will include Ray-Ban smart glasses and other hardware projects.
The Information also gives an update on Meta’s product roadmap. Meta will launch its first smart glasses with AR display next year. Quest 4 is scheduled for 2026 and will be available in two versions, codenamed “Pismo Low” and “Pismo High”. To compete with the Apple Vision Pro, Meta plans to release a high-end headset (“La Jolla”) in 2027.
Codenamed “Hypernova”, the AR glasses will feature a display in the right lens only, instead of a full binocular configuration. It is not yet clear what type of display and optics will be used but the system will likely be designed for showing simple notifications and low-resolution images.
Last year, it was reported that Meta was planning to release smart glasses with a “viewfinder” display in 2025 alongside a smart watch incorporating the company’s neural interface technology. However, there has been no update on the smart watch since.
Hypernova will be significantly heavier and bulkier than the existing Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which only offer an audio interface. Meta’s engineers have not been able to reduce the size of the frames while accommodating a display and the required battery. According to The Information, Meta will not sell the glasses as Ray-Ban because brand owner EssilorLuxottica does not agree with the design.
The second generation of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses have sold more in a few months than the first generation did in two years, according to EssilorLuxottica's CEO. They have been on the market since last October. However, AI functionalities are currently only available in the US because Europe has yet to legislate on AI regulations.
EssilorLuxottica has been approached by other big tech companies interested in developing smart glasses. According to the Wall Street Journal, Meta has been in talks to acquire a stake of about 5% in EssilorLuxottica, an investment that could be worth more than $4.7B. This would give Meta significantly more influence over the use of the Ray-Ban brand.
To find out more about the AR/VR industry, register now for the in-person AR/VR Display Forum on October 1st, 2024 at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, California.
