In a groundbreaking development, executives from two tech giants are poised to convene in South Korea to discuss an innovative "AI-XR alliance." This alliance, as revealed by industry insiders, aims to pave the way for collaborative ventures between Meta and LG, with a particular focus on the development of the highly anticipated Meta Quest Pro 2 – a next-generation premium productivity XR headset. The meeting, scheduled to take place in the near future, seeks to solidify plans for this ambitious project, positioning it as a formidable competitor to Apple's renowned 'Vision Pro.'
Insights from the Korea Economic Daily shed light on Meta's strategic decision to tap into LG's expertise in crafting cutting-edge technology, with the ultimate goal of unveiling the most high-performance XR headset in the first quarter of 2025. This collaboration, which has been in the works since September 2023, when initial murmurs of a Meta-LG Quest Pro 2 began to circulate, is a testament to the shared vision of both companies to push the boundaries of innovation in the XR space.
The Meta Quest Pro 2, with a speculated price tag of $2,000, is set to offer consumers a premium experience at a competitive price point, positioning it as a compelling alternative to Apple's Vision Pro. This strategic move comes on the heels of a pricing adjustment for the Meta Quest Pro, which experienced lacklustre sales post-launch, prompting Meta to explore new avenues for growth and market penetration.
Reports suggest that Meta's decision to pivot towards the LG-driven iteration of the Pro 2, shelving a separate prototype codenamed Funston, underscores the company's commitment to delivering a product that not only meets but exceeds consumer expectations. The upcoming rendezvous between Meta and LG is expected to formalise plans that have been in the pipeline for several months, setting the stage for a successful collaboration that leverages each company's unique strengths.
Key topics on the agenda for the meeting include outlining the suite of services that will accompany the Meta Quest Pro 2, as well as devising a robust sales strategy to ensure widespread adoption of the product upon its release. While LG will take the lead in hardware development, Meta is poised to contribute its expertise in software integration, with plans to transition the Pro 2 to a new operating system based on LG's WebOS, complemented by Meta's proprietary on-device AI technology.
Moreover, Meta's AI advancements are not limited to XR devices, with plans in the pipeline to integrate its technology into LG's home appliances, such as televisions, potentially giving rise to a virtual assistant chatbot accessible via remote controls. The prospect of deploying Meta's acclaimed "human-level AI" in commercial products represents a significant leap forward in the realm of smart technology, albeit one that may require additional fine-tuning and refinement before it can be fully realised.
As the tech landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, collaborations such as the one between Meta and LG underscore the importance of synergy and innovation in driving the industry forward. With both companies bringing their unique strengths to the table, the Meta Quest Pro 2 is poised to set new benchmarks in the XR space, offering consumers a glimpse into the future of immersive technology.