In a recent interview, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, shared his thoughts on what 2025 means for the tech giant’s augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) plans. According to Boz, next year could be a defining one — either a great success or a major failure for Meta’s Reality Labs, the AR and VR development division.
Earlier this year, Boz published an internal memo outlining two possible outcomes: 2025 could become when Meta’s metaverse vision takes off or be remembered as a “legendary misadventure.” Speaking to Bloomberg Technology on June 6, Boz seems more hopeful than ever. “This does feel like the pivotal year,” he said. “We’ll judge at the end of the decade, but this one feels different.”
AI glasses spark new excitement
Boz pointed to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses as a sign that things are heading in the right direction. These glasses, which launched in October 2023, have been a hit. As of February 2025, Meta has sold more than 2 million pairs. In fact, during the last few months of 2023, the AI glasses even outsold traditional Ray-Ban models — before the company added advanced AI features.
These glasses have done more than attract customers — they’ve also drawn attention from big tech players. In May, Google revealed new partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker fashion brands to create Android XR-based smart glasses. Apple is also said to be developing its version of smart glasses, expected to launch in 2026.
“We’ve gone from working quietly behind the scenes to being out in the open with something that excites people — including our competitors,” Boz said. “Now the clock is ticking. The competition is coming. That means our progress this year will be more valuable than ever.”
Will the market follow?
Despite growing interest and competition, Boz warned that none of it will matter if the market doesn’t adopt AR and VR in a big way. While Meta may be leading the charge now, he noted that real success will only come if customers fully embrace the technology.
“The market is usually a trailing indicator regarding hardware,” he explained. “So we look at early signs. But sometimes you need to rely on your vision and taste.”
Boz credited this way of thinking to former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg, who once told him that companies often fail not because of rivals but because they don’t follow through on their goals.
“Sheryl used to say that most companies don’t lose because they get outcompeted. They lost because they didn’t execute well. So I try to keep our team focused — not on what others are doing, but on ensuring we stick to our plan and meet our standards.”
All eyes on 2025
As for the year ahead, Boz said Meta has “a set of ambitious plans” and is currently on track to meet its goals.
By the end of the year, he hopes to know whether the company followed through. The actual result, however, may not be clear until years later. “What we’ll know by the end of the year is whether we executed our plan or not,” Boz said. “We’ll know in five years whether that was enough.”
While the outcome remains uncertain, it’s clear that 2025 is shaping up to be a make-or-break moment for Meta’s Reality Labs — and possibly for the future of the metaverse itself.
