放弃元宇宙？Meta大幅削减VR业务岗位，全力转向AI

Core Viewpoint - Meta's ambitious shift from Facebook to Meta, focusing on the Metaverse, has resulted in significant financial losses and layoffs, prompting a strategic pivot towards artificial intelligence (AI) and wearable technology, particularly smart glasses [1][4][6]. Group 1: VR Business and Layoffs - Meta has initiated layoffs affecting over 1,000 employees in its Reality Labs department, marking a significant reduction in its Metaverse ambitions and a shift towards AI [2][4]. - The layoffs include the closure of several VR content development studios, such as Armature Studio and Twisted Pixel, as part of a resource reallocation strategy [2][3]. - Horizon Worlds, Meta's virtual social network, has struggled with low user engagement, prompting the company to focus on mobile experiences and attract developers from successful platforms like Roblox [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Strategic Shift - Since late 2020, Reality Labs has incurred over $70 billion in losses, with a recent quarterly revenue of $470 million against a loss of $4.4 billion [4][6]. - Meta's strategic pivot towards AI is driven by the underperformance of its VR business and the rapid growth of mobile gaming, leading to a reassessment of its business direction [4][6]. Group 3: Investment in AI - Meta plans to invest significantly in AI, with a capital expenditure increase to $70-72 billion for 2025 and expectations for further expansion in 2026 [7]. - The company has made substantial acquisitions, including a $14.3 billion purchase of Scale AI, to bolster its AI capabilities [6][7]. - Despite heavy investments, Meta's AI models have not yet achieved competitive performance compared to industry leaders like Google and OpenAI, leading to internal disputes regarding the AI strategy [7][8]. Group 4: Smart Glasses as a Highlight - Meta's smart glasses, developed in partnership with Essilor Luxottica, have gained significant market traction, with a projected production capacity increase to 20 million units by the end of 2026 [8][9]. - The smart glasses feature advanced functionalities such as navigation, real-time translation, and video calls, positioning them as a key product in Meta's portfolio [8][9]. - Meta holds a dominant market share of approximately 73% in the smart glasses segment, with expectations for substantial growth in the coming years [8].