“Meta CEO Zuckerberg Asserts Apple VR Not in Line with His Vision”

Mark Zuckerberg Defends Meta’s Virtual Reality Approach Against Apple’s Vision Pro

Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is defending his company’s approach to virtual reality (VR), especially after Apple’s reveal of its first-ever headset called the Vision Pro. The Vision Pro is priced at $3,500 and overlays apps on the surrounding environment. This allows users to interact with content and programs over a three-dimensional space. On the other hand, Meta unveiled its VR offering, the Meta Quest 3, which is priced at $500.

Zuckerberg noted the difference in their values and vision between his social media company and Apple. Meanwhile, Apple’s headset does not feature any developments that Meta’s teams haven’t already explored and thought of, according to Zuckerberg. He explained that Meta’s vision for its virtual reality offerings is “fundamentally social,” noting that his company’s demonstration showed “people interacting in new ways and feeling closer.”

Meta’s Struggle in Metaverse Efforts

Meta’s metaverse efforts haven’t caught fire, according to the Wall Street Journal. Horizon Worlds, the company’s flagship virtual world, had fewer than 200,000 monthly active users by October 2022. In April, Meta reported its Reality Labs unit lost $3.99 billion in the most recent quarter. The social media company has invested billions into new A.I. technologies, but has hesitated to release them for broader use for fear of disseminating untrue information.

Meta’s Latest Developments

Despite its struggles, Meta announced some generative A.I. tools in its all-hands meeting on Thursday, such as chatbots for Whatsapp and Messenger, and photo-editing tools for Instagram. The company is also working on a competitor to Twitter, which it revealed to its employees on the same day. The competing social media company is internally called “Project 92” and is beset by content moderation controversies under new owner Elon Musk. Some celebrities have already shown interest in the app, according to Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer.

Meta’s “Year of Efficiency” Initiative

The social media company’s CEO calls it a “Year of Efficiency,” which focuses on cost-cutting initiatives. Since last November, the company has cut 21,000 jobs.

Conclusion

From Zuckerberg’s view, their company’s VR approach that’s “fundamentally social” is better compared to Apple’s, which he believes shows a future of computing where a person sits alone on a couch. However, it is yet to be seen whether Meta will overcome its struggles and emerge victorious in the world of virtual reality amidst its competitors.