‘Meta in talks to collaborate with augmented reality company Magic Leap’

Facebook parent company Meta is in talks with Magic Leap to sign a multi-year agreement for augmented reality purposes, which may include the “metaverse” in which Meta has invested heavily in recent years.

Reportedly, Meta wants to enlist the help of Magic Leap to help build “mainstream” augmented reality products, reports Financial Times. For example, Meta would investigate the possibility of licensing intellectual property and contract manufacturing in North America. According to insiders, however, the collaboration will not result in a joint headset.

Magic Leap, on the other hand, could produce various components needed to build the metaverse Meta envisions. The company makes AR lenses and supplies associated software, among other things. According to former employees, waveguides are Magic Leap’s “biggest asset”. This technology enables thin glass to display realistic images with varying depths before the user’s eyes.

Meta recently cut a large number of jobs, including in the division that works on the metaverse. According to The Verge Another round of layoffs is coming. The company’s massive investment in the metaverse has so far been met with skepticism. For example, the metaverse platform Horizon Worlds is still little used. In October 2022, the company released its Meta Quest Pro headset with a suggested retail price of 1800 euros.

Magic Leap was founded in 2010 and introduced its first AR headset in 2017. Due to meager sales figures, the company shifted its focus from consumer to applications for companies. Last year, the Magic Leap 2 appeared, with a price starting at $ 3300.

Meta Quest Pro. Image: Meta