meta reveals AR glasses orion, a hands-free wearable AI device that acts like smartphones

Meta reveals research prototype for its AR glasses, Orion

Meta unveils Orion, its dubbed first true AR glasses that look into the future of smartphones as hands-free and wearable AI devices. Mark Zuckerberg led the reveal during his keynote speech at Meta Connect 2024, which ran between September 25th and 26th, 2024. Viewers saw him put on and explain the features of the AR glasses, Orion.

In the event, the team’s Ray Ban Meta AI glasses have also received updates, which include an app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers. The AI glasses also get new shiny frames and an improved AI assistant. So far, there are no official announcements on the AR eyewear’s release date yet. What has been shown to the public is just the research prototype, and the development team is currently in their testing phase.

all images courtesy of Meta

‘Hands-free’, wearable AI technology with no screen-size limits

Still, Meta wants to look into the future of AR glasses with Orion. The development team might be an alternative to smartphones, if not replace them. First off, its screen has no limits or size because Orion considers everything it sees as the display. The AR glasses are powered by AI and have large holographic screens that float before their eyes. Users can experience both the 2D and 3D worlds at once. Because of the contextual AI update that Meta has pushed out, the hands-free device can understand and interpret what users may need at the moment in real-time.

The glasses are lightweight and ideal for indoor and outdoor use. Even with their thick lenses and frame, people can still see others clearly. Meta prides itself on having miniature parts for Orion, which may be considered a first in the AR industry. The development team says that the device has “the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date” because the parts used to build it are packed down to a fraction of a millimeter.

Meta unveils Orion, its dubbed first true AR glasses

miniaturized cameras and sensors packed into the frame

Meta has improved the color correction, power, and brightness of the Orion AR glasses for better visibility, and they use micro LED projectors and silicon carbide for the device’s field of view. The frame is made of silicone so it doesn’t cause friction around the users’ ears, and it’s also made of magnesium to make the glasses thermal and lightweight.

The miniaturized cameras and sensors sit on the sides of the frame. While Orion is dubbed hands-free, users still need to wear the included wristband. It has electromyography (EMG) technology, which can track the hand movements of the users. This additional accessory allows what they see on the holographic displays to move and work as if they were smartphones.

these AR glasses look into the future of smartphones, which can replace or be an alternative for them

Because of the AR glasses’ large field of view, the Orion users can stack, open, and use several tabs at once. They just move them around with their hands, so they don’t topple over each other. When users video call others, the people appear as “life-size” avatars before their eyes, flashed on a surface (and even on the ceiling if they’re lying down).

The Orion AR glasses come with Meta AI, a smart assistant developed in-house. The virtual helper can assist users in knowing more information about the objects, spaces, and queries around them as well as tell them what they can prepare with the ingredients they’ve left in their fridge. So far, Meta’s AR glasses Orion are still a research prototype, and there is no official news yet on the release date of the AI eyewear.

large holographic screens float before the user’s eyes

while Orion is dubbed hands-free, users still need to wear the included wristband

$the parts used to build the AR glasses are packed down to a fraction of a millimeter$
the parts used to build the AR glasses are packed down to a fraction of a millimeter