Reality Labs in transition: Meta structures new departments for Metaverse and Wearables
By restructuring Reality Labs, Meta aims to create an integrated product experience across hardware, software, and experiences.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has announced a major restructuring of the Reality Labs hardware division. According to The Verge, all teams in Reality Labs will be consolidated into two groups: A central 'Metaverse' organization and a new 'Wearables' organization.
The Metaverse organization will include the Quest headset product line, Horizon OS and Horizon Worlds. The Wearables division will include Meta's AR developments, such as smart glasses and AR headsets, with a focus on Meta AI. Long-time Meta VP Alex Himel will lead the Wearables division. Vishal Shah, who was already responsible for Horizon, will now also oversee the Quest line in his Metaverse division.
As a result of the restructuring, some Reality Labs staff have also been made redundant. The exact number is not known, but it is believed to be a relatively small number, focused on teams in Reality Labs where management positions are now redundant due to the new structure.
Restructuring for a better product experience
Mixed reality hardware and software will now be developed in the same department: "This new structure will enable us to create a more integrated product experience across hardware, software, and experiences with less friction and fragmentation," says Bosworth.
Meta recently opened up its VR ecosystem to external hardware partners to build custom hardware and launched the operating system under the name Meta Horizon OS.
"We are deeply committed to investing in Horizon as the core foundation of our social, spatial Horizon OS, and high-quality experiences for both mixed reality and mobile." Horizon Worlds will continue to play an important role. Meta's Metaverse prototype has gone from being a ridiculed internet meme to one of the most used apps in the Quest ecosystem in recent years.
Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses: greater success than expected
Another factor in the split may have been the success of Meta's Smart Glasses. In the memo, Bosworth describes the Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses as "a much bigger success than expected". Back in February, it was announced that demand had significantly outstripped supply, forcing hardware partner EssilorLuxottica to produce more.
Meta is also reportedly working on a prototype AR glasses that could be unveiled later this year. One reason why these devices are no longer in the same category as the Quest headsets is probably the underlying technology.
In particular, Meta has identified its in-house AI assistant, Meta AI, as an important core feature for the new wearables. However, Meta AI is currently designed for a glasses format and cannot be transferred one-to-one to the logic of a VR headset. "We have the leading AI device on the market right now, and we are doubling down on finding strong product market fit for wearable Meta AI, building a business around it, and expanding the audience," Bosworth writes in the memo.
Bosworth's full memo can be found at the link in the source below.
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