Meta Reinvents Reality Labs: Dividing Virtual and Augmented Research into Metaverse and Wearable Groups

Since 2020, Reality Labs, the department dedicated to virtual and augmented reality technologies at Meta, has been responsible for the research and development of the company’s products around virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. However, recently the division has undergone a restructuring that will see it divided into two large groups: one dedicated to the metaverse and the other to wearable devices.

The ‘Metaverse’ group will cover core work on future technologies, while the ‘Wearables’ group will focus on hardware development excluding Quest headsets. While some workers within Reality Labs have been let go as a result of these changes, Meta has not specified an exact number of layoffs.

This restructuring seems to be linked to Meta’s interest in promoting accessories such as smart glasses launched in partnership with Ray-Ban, which now include support for the Meta AI assistant. These changes reflect Meta’s strategic shift towards advancing technology for the metaverse and wearables within the virtual and augmented reality space.