Meta Quest Professional
Meta’s Chief Technology Officer has virtually confirmed reports that the company is shelving plans for a rival product, just as powerful as the original.
Prior to the unveiling of the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, the company laid out a four-year plan for developing and launching digital and augmented reality headsets. A pivotal aspect of this strategy was the emergence of “La Jolla”, which, if successful, could have evolved into a formidable global competitor to Apple Imaginative and prescient Professionals.
Notably, Meta first detected the anomaly in November 2023; yet, after careful consideration, it ultimately decided to cancel the mission around mid-August 2024. According to sources, the decision was reportedly made during a product assessment meeting convened by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and featuring Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, along with other key stakeholders.
Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth responded cautiously to the report, neither affirming nor denying its contents in his initial statement.
“With numerous prototypes continuously refined, our public service announcement is simplified.” “While not all designs are transferred to production, we refrain from doing so.”
As he spoke, his words hung in the air like a challenge, daring anyone to question the unspoken truth behind his decision. “Such instances recur frequently, and narratives built solely around anecdotal evidence about individual choices will never accurately capture the essence.”
Meta’s ongoing efforts focus on developing distinct virtual reality headsets. It appears that the device has effectively superseded its Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional counterpart, reportedly known as La Jolla, likely due to cost considerations.
While the $3,500 Apple Pro Display XDR has yet to achieve a dramatic level of success, Despite reportedly prioritizing keeping the La Jolla headset’s price under $1,000, Meta ultimately found that goal unattainable.
It is thought that La Jolla likely utilized software akin to the Apple Imaginative and Prescient Professional. While the absence of specific pricing information likely played a significant role.
According to two anonymous insiders at Meta, there is a possibility that the La Jolla headset could be brought back to life. The expertise honed for this application, such as gaze monitoring, holds potential to be applied in a diverse range of products.
While Meta hasn’t officially scrapped the project, the stalled development of the Meta Quest Professional implies a significant uncertainty surrounding its future.
