Meta Vice President Vishal Shah has directed the company’s metaverse development team to leverage AI tools to significantly boost productivity. The goal is to achieve a fivefold increase in efficiency in creating virtual reality experiences. This directive, communicated on October 11, 2025, underscores the use of AI for tasks such as coding, design, and content creation to address delays in the Reality Labs division. The push for AI integration is part of a broader strategy to overcome existing challenges and accelerate the development of Meta’s metaverse vision.
Leadership’s Push for AI Acceleration
Vishal Shah, as the Vice President of Metaverse at Meta, has taken a proactive stance in transforming the company’s approach to metaverse development. In a direct memo to engineers and designers at Reality Labs, Shah urged the team to “go 5X faster” by incorporating AI assistants into their workflows. This includes using AI for routine tasks like code generation and asset prototyping, which are essential for speeding up the development process. Shah’s rationale is that AI can drastically reduce development timelines from months to mere weeks, with tools like Meta’s Llama models being recommended for internal use (India Today).
Shah has also tied the use of AI to performance metrics within the team, incentivizing quicker iterations on features for Horizon Worlds. This approach not only aims to enhance productivity but also to foster a culture of innovation and rapid development. By integrating AI into their processes, Meta hopes to streamline operations and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving tech landscape (404 Media).
Challenges Facing Meta’s Metaverse Team
The Reality Labs division has faced numerous setbacks, including high operational costs exceeding $15 billion annually and slow user adoption of metaverse products like Quest headsets. These challenges have been compounded by internal frustrations among engineers, who have encountered bureaucratic hurdles and underperforming VR prototypes. The directive to use AI is seen as a strategic move to address these issues and revitalize the division’s efforts (Gizmodo).
Amid these challenges, there has been an emphasis on rebuilding the “metaverse vision” through AI, particularly in light of talent retention issues and recent layoffs within the division. This renewed focus on AI-driven development is intended to stabilize the team and ensure that Meta can continue to innovate in the face of mounting pressures from both internal and external sources (India TV News).
AI Tools and Implementation Strategies
Shah has outlined specific AI applications that are expected to transform the development process. These include automated scripting for virtual environments and AI-driven debugging, which could reduce manual labor by up to 80% in metaverse builds. Such tools are designed to streamline workflows and enhance the efficiency of the development team (Mashable).
To support this transition, Meta has initiated training programs, including workshops on integrating open-source AI like GitHub Copilot into the company’s proprietary development pipelines. These initiatives aim to equip the team with the skills necessary to leverage AI effectively, thereby accelerating the prototyping process and reducing sprint cycles in agile teams working on mixed-reality features (India Today).
Broader Implications for Meta’s Strategy
This AI mandate is a critical component of Meta’s strategic pivot from social media to immersive technology. By reallocating resources from AI research to metaverse acceleration, Meta aims to solidify its position as a leader in the virtual reality space. This shift is also driven by competitive pressures from companies like Apple and Microsoft, which are advancing their own VR efforts. As a result, Meta is using AI as a cost-saving measure to address investor concerns about Reality Labs’ spending (Gizmodo).
However, there are potential risks associated with this strategy, including the possibility of over-reliance on AI leading to quality issues in metaverse content. Internal feedback loops have flagged these concerns, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that ensures AI enhances rather than compromises the quality of Meta’s offerings. As Meta navigates these challenges, the stakes are high, with the company’s future in the metaverse space hinging on the successful integration of AI into its development processes (India Today).