Tech Brew Ride Home
Thu. 09/26 – The Orion Smartglasses
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- OpenAI is moving towards a for-profit model, prompting top executives to leave.
- The Quest 3S offers promising upgrades at a lower price point, making VR more accessible.
- Meta's Orion AR glasses represent a significant technological advancement, but production hurdles may delay their release.
Summary
Executive Departures at OpenAI
OpenAI is experiencing significant leadership changes as CTO Mira Murati and two other high-profile executives, Bob McGrew and Barrett Zof, announce their departures. Murati cites a desire for personal exploration, while concerns about the company’s shift towards a for-profit model and its implications for governance and AI safety resonate strongly in the tech community. Reports state that Sam Altman will receive equity in the company as OpenAI restructures, raising questions about the balance between profit and ethical oversight in AI development.
Meta's New VR and AR Offerings
At a recent event, Meta introduced the Quest 3S, a more affordable VR headset that retains many features of its more expensive predecessor, the Quest 3. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Orion AR glasses were showcased but will not be available for purchase due to high production costs and complexity. These glasses, designed with advanced technology including silicon carbide lenses and neural input wristband, signify Meta's ambitious goal of pioneering the next generation of interactive tech, though concerns about their practicality and mass production loom.
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Show notes
There’s only two stories really. If you can believe it, more executive departures at OpenAI, as it looks like they’re serious about going for profit. And yes, Meta announced a new Quest headset, but the real headlines are the Orion smartglasses, which you can’t actually buy. What? I’ll explain.
Sponsors:
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Links:
OpenAI considering restructuring to for-profit, CTO Mira Murati and two top research execs depart (CNBC)
Exclusive: OpenAI to remove non-profit control and give Sam Altman equity (Reuters)
Meta’s cheaper Quest 3S might just be an upgrade (The Verge)
A Few Brief Thoughts on Meta Connect 2024 (Daring Fireball)
Meta pitches VR to mobile developers with new support for Android apps on Quest (TechCrunch)
Meta’s big tease (The Verge)
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