Mark Zuckerberg showcased Meta's latest development in photorealistic avatars during a conversation on the Lex Fridman podcast. Facilitated through Meta's Quest 3 headsets, the avatars delivered a realistic and immersive experience, garnering positive reactions from users on social media. This advancement, known as Codec Avatars, is a significant step in Meta's metaverse ambitions. While the technology is impressive, Zuckerberg mentioned that widespread availability may be a few years away due to the need for specialized equipment and expensive machine-learning software.
Meta's Photorealistic Avatars Shine in Tech Demo on Lex Fridman Podcast
In a recent episode of the Lex Fridman podcast, Mark Zuckerberg showcased Meta's cutting-edge photorealistic avatars, offering an immersive and realistic experience. The conversation, which took place entirely in the metaverse using Meta's Quest 3 headsets, received positive feedback from users on social media, highlighting the sophistication of the avatar technology.
Codec Avatars, Meta's long-running research project, powers these realistic avatars. First introduced in 2019, Codec Avatars aim to create fully photorealistic, real-time avatars with face-tracking sensors integrated into headsets. Users were genuinely impressed by the realism, with comments such as "the metaverse is officially real" and "9 minutes into the Lex/Mark metaverse podcast, I forgot I was watching avatars."
Despite the impressive display, Zuckerberg mentioned that widespread availability might be a few years away. The technology currently relies on expensive machine-learning software and full head scans using specialized equipment with over 100 cameras. Zuckerberg expressed Meta's goal to reduce barriers, envisioning a future where these scans could be achieved with a regular smartphone.
This demonstration comes on the heels of Meta's unveiling of Meta AI, its latest AI assistant, integrated across various platforms, including chatbots, apps, and smart glasses. The company continues to push the boundaries of immersive technologies as it pursues its metaverse ambitions.
(TOM MITCHELHILL, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)