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Innovative device from Chinese company aims to replace cell phones, joining Mark Zuckerberg's initiatives on the future of technology
Mark Zuckerberg, one of the biggest figures in technology and owner of companies such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, made a shocking statement recently: the end of smartphones may be near. He claims that a new innovative technology is about to emerge, ready to replace cell phones as we know them and radically transform the way we connect and interact with the world.
The possibility of replacing smartphones as the main personal communication device is no longer a mere futuristic idea and is becoming a relevant discussion, driven by the development of smart glasses from Meta and Baidu.
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Tech leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Baidu CEO Robin Li are investing heavily in augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) devices, envisioning a future where smart glasses become the next big advancement in personal technology.
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But could these smart glasses really replace cell phones in the near future?
Meta and Mark Zuckerberg's Project Orion
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been a leader in the development of social connectivity technologies for more than two decades. However, the company has never ventured into the smartphone market. With Project Orion, the augmented reality glasses developed by Meta, Mark Zuckerberg believes the company will finally find its niche in hardware.
During the annual Meta Connect event, he presented the prototype of the Orion glasses, a device that promises to revolutionize the way we interact with the digital world, placing the main functionalities of the smartphone directly in the user's field of vision.
Orion: More than just smart glasses
The Orion glasses have been described by Mark Zuckerberg as more than just a wearable device. Equipped with an advanced holographic display and AR technology, they allow users to access multiple virtual displays, send messages, hold video conferences and even play games, without the need for a phone. Interaction with the device occurs through voice commands, gestures and even eye movement, providing an intuitive and revolutionary experience.
However, one of the challenges Meta still faces is making the device attractive and functional for the mass market. According to Andrew Bosworth, CTO of Meta, the Orion still needs improvements in terms of design and aesthetics.
Even so, Mark Zuckerberg's Meta maintains a long-term vision and continues to invest in overcoming these barriers, with the expectation that the glasses could be launched in the coming years at a competitive price.
Baidu and Ernie: AI Smart Glasses for Everyday Life
Chinese technology giant Baidu recently announced its own smart glasses, powered by the company's own Ernie language model.
Unlike Meta, whose initial focus is augmented reality for digital interaction, Baidu's glasses focus on the personal assistant with artificial intelligence, targeting practical everyday functions, such as calorie monitoring, quick queries about the environment and entertainment.
Baidu's difference: Artificial intelligence for mass consumption
According to Li Ying, head of Xiaodu (Baidu's hardware brand), the company's smart glasses aim to be more than just a communication device, taking on the role of an AI-powered personal assistant.
Integrated with the Ernie language model, the glasses can perform tasks which include health monitoring, music playback, video recording and even answering contextual questions.
Despite China's limitations in large-scale language models, experts believe Baidu can compete in this sector due to its strong consumer electronics sector.
Baidu is making a splash by integrating Ernie Bot, the market leader among virtual assistants in China, with other devices, such as a virtual dashboard for monitoring elderly relatives. Baidu’s smart glasses are expected to be available in the Chinese market next year, marking the beginning of a new phase of competition in the AI hardware sector.
Meta vs. Baidu: Competitions and Partnerships
Not only do Meta and Baidu compete directly for dominance in the smart glasses market, but they also stand out through their strategic partnerships and the way they leverage their technology.
Meta, for example, has partnered with Ray-Ban to launch a line of smart glasses that feature features such as cameras and speakers. Baidu, which targets Chinese consumers, is leveraging China’s strong AI and hardware infrastructure to create competitive and affordable products.
While Meta is targeting international markets, Baidu is focusing on China, where demand for embedded AI technology is on the rise.
Their entry into the smart glasses market suggests that this sector is promising and could define the next great technological revolution, especially as companies seek to offer devices with more functionality and less dependence on smartphones.
The potential of Smart Glasses to replace smartphones
The idea of replacing smartphones with smart glasses raises several practical considerations. First, the issue of design is a concern central. Smart glasses still struggle to combine advanced functionality with a look that is pleasing and unobtrusive to the average user.
Both Meta Both Baidu and other companies are investing heavily in research and development to improve this issue, but there is still a long way to go before the general public accepts the use of smart glasses as an alternative to smartphones.
Another crucial point is the interaction interface. For the glasses to truly replace smartphones, they need to offer an intuitive user experience, something Meta is trying to achieve by using voice commands and gestures. Baidu, on the other hand, is betting on AI to personalize the experience according to the user's needs.
Despite the barriers, advances in AI and AR technologies are making this a reality. As these devices become more affordable and capable of performing the core functions of smartphones, consumers may begin to see smart glasses as a viable alternative, especially in situations where convenience and hands-free access are desired.
Outlook for the future
As Mark Zuckerberg has said, the journey to replacing smartphones with smart glasses will not be quick. There are a number of technical challenges, such as battery life, device weight and compatibility with software platforms.
For smart glasses to be adopted on a large scale, an ecosystem of apps and features will be needed that goes beyond what smartphones currently offer.
Additionally, there is the challenge of convincing the average consumer to adopt this new technology. Historically, previous attempts to introduce smart glasses to the market, such as Google Glass, have not had the desired impact.
As such, Meta and Baidu need to exceed user expectations and ensure that their devices deliver an experience that current smartphones cannot provide.
Still, both Meta and Baidu demonstrate a significant commitment to creating the future of AR and AI technology. With Meta leading the Western market and Baidu leading the Chinese market, we’re likely to see fierce and innovative competition that benefits consumers around the world.
The Future of Digital Connectivity with Leadership from Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg and Baidu's smart glasses represent the beginning of a new era in digital connectivity, challenging the dominance of smartphones.
While the road to completely replacing mobile phones is still long, the innovations from both companies demonstrate a commitment to a future where technology is even more integrated into our daily lives, in an invisible and intuitive way.
If these devices can overcome the technical barriers and offer compelling designs, we could be witnessing the beginning of the end of the smartphone era. As the smartglasses market evolves, consumers will likely have more options and functionality, making the debate over whether to replace their smartphones a question of “when” rather than “if.”
This technology is already being used through devices. A connection that goes beyond, using “portals” that are accessed by devices. These portals are “tunnels” with direct connection to solar energy and access through this “stellar” direction.
I think it will revolutionize the communication system but it should interfere in the way vehicles are driven as it should draw drivers' attention.
And you in Portuguese, right?
It's still too early to comment, but I don't think it will happen.
I apologize for disagreeing. I believe it will catch on, but it will take a while for it to be accepted by the consumer market. Cell phones were a boom in the 1990s, and smartphones revolutionized the way people interacted. Today, we are completely dependent on them. I imagine, for example, that the overwhelming majority of participants in this discussion are currently using smartphones, whether Apple or one of the various Android distributions. These “smart glasses,” if we can call them that, should probably bring some appeal when they hit the market. Flawed designs often help competitors improve things. As mentioned below, the concern is in relation to people who suffer from myopia, astigmatism, and other vision problems.
In fact, for example, I have myopia and astigmatism, I even like new technologies, but I don't see how I'll be able to use them without putting one pair of glasses on top of the other.
I don't know if I'll adapt, I can't wear prescription glasses and sunglasses for very long. I keep taking them off and putting them on every minute.
Huh? That's nothing new. Google Glass didn't get past the first version, nobody bought it. Is everyone going to walk around looking like the robot Data from Star Trek?
From my point of view, living in a country where we are constantly robbed of our cell phones, I would say that it is an improvement... But I know that the price of this will break everyone's bankrupt too.
Well, not everyone likes glasses. I think that even those who need them sometimes find them uncomfortable. They leave a mark on the nose. I wouldn't like this new feature, just like the clock will be fixed to the bedside table.
I partly agree with you. I believe that, at some point, this will be overcome with a design or another way of integrating technology into everyday life. What worries me is how people with visual defects, such as myopia, astigmatism and others, will deal with this. Let's wait and see if these developers are paying attention to these details.
I watched a movie with this
Player number 1
What is the name of the movie?