Meta Reality Labs Splits: Metaverse and Wearables Divisions Formed
According to reports from MIXED and The Verge, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has announced a new structural reorganization within the Reality Labs hardware division. All teams in Reality Labs will now be divided into two groups: a central “Metaverse” group and a new “Wearables” group.
The Metaverse group will encompass the Quest headset product line, Horizon OS, and Horizon Worlds. The Wearables group will be responsible for AR development, such as smart glasses and AR headsets, and will also focus on Meta AI. Long-time Meta VP Alex Himel will lead the Wearables group, while Vishal Shah, who already oversees Horizon, will also manage the Quest division following the reorganization.
Post-restructuring, some Reality Labs employees will be laid off, though the exact number remains unclear. These layoffs result from the structural changes, primarily affecting management positions within the original Reality Labs team, so it is believed that the number of affected employees will not be substantial.
Currently, Meta‘s hardware offerings include the Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro headsets, as well as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, aligning perfectly with the new organizational structure. While the Quest headsets are widely familiar, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, resembling ordinary sunglasses, feature a camera but lack AR functionality. Interaction is primarily through speakers, a microphone, and a touchpad on the glasses’ arms, explaining why Meta AI falls under the purview of the Wearables group.
