In a meeting, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg was asked how Apple’s possible competition would affect it. He expects a competition of philosophies.
From Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s point of view, Apple’s anticipated entry into the augmented reality business is about nothing less than a contest of philosophies. At a staff meeting, Zuckerberg was asked how he thinks Apple’s AR glasses could affect Facebook’s Metaverse plans and Oculus devices. According to Zuckerberg, the question of whether an open or closed system will prevail is still completely open.
Zuckerberg elevates the metaverse in meaning to the same level as PC and smartphone. While an open system prevailed on the PC with Windows and was more widespread than the Mac, it is the case with smartphones, despite the widespread use of Android smartphones, that cultural workers and developers would rather give preference to the iPhone and iOS. According to a report by The Verge, Zuckerberg said the future of the Metaverse is not yet fixed.
Open versus closed
Zuckerberg sees his own approach and that of Meta as open. Meta is committed to ensuring that the ecosystem extends beyond its own devices. Meta founded the Open Standards Group, which includes Microsoft, Adobe, Huawei and Epic Games.
Apple is not part of this group, but to this day has not yet officially declared that AR and VR should even become a business field beyond the apps for iPhone and iPad. Only Apple boss Tim Cook has repeatedly expressed great interest, which, together with other signs and umpteen patents, is interpreted as a sign that the launch of a proprietary headset is imminent in the coming months or years.
Where is the internet going?
Meta’s goal is to have 1 billion people in the Metaverse by the end of the decade, with each user spending hundreds of dollars in digital commerce, Zuckerberg said. The company promises a business that is similar to that of advertising on the social network.
Apple will be a “very strong competitor” here and it’s not just about a device having more functions. “It’s a very deep, philosophical contest about which direction the Internet should go.”
