Meta’s CTO Declares 2025 a ‘Crucial Year’ for Augmented and Virtual Reality

Sure thing, let’s dive into this, and forgive me if I get a bit sidetracked. You know how it goes.

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So, there’s this guy, right? Andrew “Boz” Bosworth from Meta – one of the OG engineers. Picture this: early 2023, he writes this memo, dreaming – or predicting, take your pick – that by 2025, Reality Labs, Meta’s AR/VR thing, could either be the next big thing or one epic belly flop. Like, imagine trying to skate on a banana peel. Could go either way, right?

And lately, Boz is all hyped about its potential – the good kind, not the banana peel catastrophe. But let’s be honest, it’s the market that’s gonna deal the final hand. Or not. Who even knows with these things?

In this chat the other day — might’ve been Thursday, not that it matters much — Boz was going on about how this year is like, THE year. Like, the turning point. Or maybe it’s just another chaotic step in this whole metaverse saga.

Oh! And those Ray Ban AI glasses? Total hit! People are losing their minds over them. Sold over 2 million since they popped up in October 2023. Crazy, right? Outselling the classic Ray Bans even before they added the AI bells and whistles. Wild.

And not to be left in the dust, Google is cozying up with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to churn out their own smart glasses. Even Apple’s itching to drop their own by 2026 – because who wants FOMO on smart glasses, right?

Here’s the kicker – Meta’s gone from being this kinda-secretive tech whiz to duking it out in the big leagues. Competitors are drooling. It’s like being in a race where the starting gun has just fired, and you forgot to tie your shoelaces. But Boz? He’s saying this year’s progress is like, super-duper valuable. Maybe even more than any year before or after. High stakes, folks.

Now, here’s a twist. All this jazz about who’s competing is a sideshow if the market doesn’t cozy up to Meta’s AR/VR wizardry. I mean, if folks aren’t buying, it’s just another tech toy gathering dust, right?

Boz also dropped this nugget – thank Sheryl Sandberg for the wisdom here – about how most companies don’t flop ‘cause some other company beat them. Nah, they trip on their own shoelaces, metaphorically speaking. Kinda like making a beeline for the podium and faceplanting instead. So Boz is all about keeping the team focused, like a laser (or maybe a flashlight, depending on the day).

By year’s end, Boz wants to see if they nailed their to-do list. Fast forward five years? We’ll see if those checks and balances panned out or if they’re just wishful thinking.

And there you have it, a peek into Meta’s rollercoaster of a year. Here’s hoping they manage to stay on track – because who really wants to faceplant on a global stage?

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Whew, what a ride. Got kinda carried away there!