Meta CTO Confirms Mixed Reality Glasses Project, AI Earbuds with Cameras & Cancellation of High-End Quest

In a recent interview with The Verge, Meta’s CTO and Reality Labs chief Andrew Bosworth confirmed several ongoing projects, discussed the company’s strategic focus on AI, and revealed plans to strengthen its partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban.

Earlier this year, Meta restructured Reality Labs to prioritize wearables such as Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and AI-driven wearable technology, including a new version of its wrist-worn controller unveiled alongside the Orion AR glasses prototype.

Bosworth outlined Meta’s phased approach to product development, starting with a “pre-discovery” phase for prototyping innovative concepts. Ideas that show promise move to the “discovery” phase for feasibility testing and design evaluation. Prototyping follows with more executive involvement, and successful products proceed to market after engineering validation.

During the interview, Bosworth confirmed several rumors, including Meta’s exploration of earbuds with cameras, similar to Apple’s reported project, and the development of mixed reality goggles in the “steampunk-like” style.

While Bosworth did not confirm the timeline, reports suggest that the mixed reality goggles may launch as early as 2027 if they pass prototyping and engineering validation stages successfully.

Bosworth also confirmed the cancellation of a high-end Quest headset, codenamed La Jolla, which was initially expected to be the Quest Pro 2. The decision to cancel La Jolla likely stemmed from subdued consumer interest in high-priced headsets like the Quest Pro and Apple Vision Pro.

Furthermore, Meta’s decision to acquire a noncontrolling stake in EssilorLuxottica aligns with reports and aims to balance volume and margins between the two companies. Bosworth expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We found a good solution to it, so we’re pretty excited about it.”

Meta’s focus on AI-powered devices has intensified to keep pace with competitors like Apple. The company is now concurrently developing multiple products, indicating a shift from its earlier approach.

Bosworth emphasized the importance of innovation, stating, “If there’s a part of your body that could potentially host a wearable that could do AI, there’s a good chance we’ve had a team run that down.”

Meta recently launched Quest 3S, a $300 mixed reality headset featuring Quest 3’s chipset and full-color mixed reality capabilities with last-gen displays, aiming to replicate the success of Quest 2.