Metaverse 2025: Pivotal Year for AR/VR, Says CTO

Meta's Reality Labs: A Pivotal Year for the Metaverse

Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer and one of the company’s initial engineering team members, circulated a memo earlier this year. This memo predicted that 2025 could represent a turning point for Reality Labs, Meta’s division focused on augmented and virtual reality technologies.

Alternatively, the year could mark the metaverse’s failure, becoming known as a significant and costly undertaking.

Current Outlook and Market Influence

Bosworth currently expresses a more optimistic view regarding the potential for success. However, he emphasizes that ultimate validation will come from the market’s response.

“A definitive assessment will be made at the decade’s end, but this year undeniably feels crucial,” Bosworth stated during a recent Bloomberg Tech interview.

Ray-Ban AI Glasses: A Breakthrough Product

Bosworth highlighted the success of Meta’s Ray-Ban AI glasses as a key achievement. These glasses have generated considerable excitement among both consumers and industry rivals.

As of February, over 2 million pairs have been sold since their launch in October 2023. Remarkably, sales surpassed those of traditional Ray-Ban models even before the integration of AI features.

Growing Competition in the Smart Glasses Market

Google recently announced collaborations with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to develop smart glasses powered by Android XR. Furthermore, reports indicate that Apple is actively preparing to release its own smart glasses in 2026.

“We’ve transitioned from operating in relative obscurity to being prominently positioned with a product that strongly appeals to consumers, which naturally attracts competition,” Bosworth explained. “The competitive landscape is intensifying, making the progress achieved this year particularly valuable.”

Market Adoption and Industry Standardization

Despite increasing competition, Bosworth believes that widespread market acceptance of Meta’s AR and VR products is essential. This adoption would be a catalyst for industry-wide standardization of the underlying technologies.

“Market response, particularly regarding hardware, tends to lag behind initial development,” Bosworth noted. “Therefore, it’s important to identify early indicators and maintain internal confidence in our vision.”

Lessons from Sheryl Sandberg

Bosworth attributes this perspective to lessons learned from Sheryl Sandberg, Meta’s former Chief Operating Officer.

“Sheryl frequently pointed out that most companies don’t fail due to competitive pressure,” Bosworth shared. “The primary reason for failure is often a failure to effectively implement their own strategic plan. My focus with the team is therefore on execution, rather than solely on the actions of competitors.”

Ambitious Plans and Future Assessment

The Meta CTO confirmed that the company has established “a set of ambitious plans for the year” and is currently on track to meet its objectives.

“By year-end, we will be able to determine whether we successfully executed our plan,” Bosworth stated. “However, the ultimate measure of success will be evident in five years’ time.”