Zuckerberg showcases the latest developments in photorealistic 3D avatars in a video interview in Cyberspace. But it is questionable whether brilliant technology will be able to save the Metaverse. Because Meta reported a loss of $3.74 billion in its Reality Labs division in the third quarter of this year.
Mark Zuckerberg’s response to significant financial losses at the beginning of October was to lay off employees in research units that produce hardware and software for virtual reality and augmented reality. There, multidisciplinary experts are developing virtual reality tools such as the Meta Quest headset or Spark AR Studio, which is offered as a programming suite by Facebook for augmented reality projects, and researching the frontiers of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
It’s unclear how many professionals were laid off this month, but since November 2022, Meta has cut about 21,000 jobs. The massive job cuts are also intended to convince investors that Reality Labs’ costs are under control despite falling sales. However, if you take into account the $21.3 billion losses that have occurred in the business and research unit since August 2022, the confidence of many investors is likely to be limited. The company’s immature VR experiences and outdated headsets have also drawn criticism from some users.
First interview in the Metaverse
Last year, the more expensive $1,500 Meta Quest Pro headset was given away to all attendees at Roblox’s RDC23 conference for marketing purposes. It remains to be seen whether the $500 Quest 3 will perform better. For example, VR fans on Twitter (X), YouTube and Reddit are complaining about the insufficient sound quality of the headset, which Meta wants to fix.
However, there have also been some notable technological developments recently, such as “the first interview in the Metaverse,” as podcaster Lex Friedman called it. The video below shows two realistic 3D avatars of Zuckerberg and Friedman, who impress with their distinct facial expressions and spatial voice.
I’m fascinated by futuristic scenarios and imaginative worlds, which is why I love engaging with topics like AI, AR, and gaming and writing about them on Notebookcheck. In order to devote myself more deeply to these fields, I studied design, digital media and art after working as a goldsmith and silversmith. In my free time, I also play music and spend a lot of time in nature with my dogs.
