Meta Platforms, the tech large main the cost towards the metaverse, is reportedly getting ready for a major workforce discount inside its Actuality Labs division.
This unit, often called the Fb Agile Silicon Group (FAST), is accountable for creating customized silicon chips for Meta’s augmented actuality (AR) and digital actuality (VR) merchandise.
In keeping with insider sources, the layoffs had been introduced by way of a put up on Meta’s inner dialogue discussion board, Office. The extent of the cuts stays unsure, however their influence might be important, doubtlessly hindering CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s bold metaverse undertaking.
With roughly 600 staff, the FAST unit has been instrumental in creating customized chips that differentiate Meta’s gadgets from rivals within the AR/VR market.
The cuts may notably have an effect on the event of AR glasses, a product Zuckerberg believes,
“Will redefine our relationship with expertise.”
Nonetheless, regardless of these challenges, Meta continues to innovate. The latest information is that the corporate is creating merchandise resembling good glasses and AR glasses. A primary model is predicted to be accomplished subsequent yr.
Learn extra: 10 Metaverse Platforms To Watch Out for in 2023
Meta’s struggles with chip manufacturing have been ongoing. The corporate has turned to exterior suppliers like Qualcomm for its present market gadgets.
This workforce discount follows a collection of layoffs. Round 21,000 jobs have been slashed since November final yr as Meta makes an attempt to manage prices amid slowing income progress and excessive inflation.
Metaverse Push Renewed
Regardless of these setbacks, Meta continues to make strides within the metaverse. As an example, CEO Mark Zuckerberg not too long ago showcased developments in photorealistic avatar growth utilizing Meta’s Quest 3 headset.
This expertise tracks facial expressions and encodes real-time facial knowledge, leading to extremely real looking avatars.
Whereas the expertise isn’t but consumer-ready, it has already obtained reward. Podcaster Lex Fridman lauded the expertise as “essentially the most unbelievable factor I’ve ever seen.” Coder Jelle Prins added,
“9 minutes into the Lex/Mark metaverse podcast, I utterly forgot I used to be observing avatars.”
Regardless of the upcoming layoffs, Meta stays dedicated to its metaverse imaginative and prescient. Its ongoing growth of AI assistants for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Fb, coupled with developments in avatar expertise, point out that the corporate is poised to proceed making strides within the metaverse, even because it navigates workforce restructuring and market challenges.
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