Everything I Expect to See at Meta Connect 2024
Meta is behind a number of product and service categories, but at Meta Connect 2024 , the company’s annual developer conference, don’t expect news specifically related to apps like Facebook or Instagram. Instead, Mehta says Connect is about “future technologies,” that is, AR, VR and AI. (All acronyms.) Here’s what we expect to see.
New meta-quest
The Meta Quest 3 is the company’s current VR headset, and while it’s certainly not as expensive as Apple’s Vision Pro , it still costs at least $499.
Meta is rumored to be working on a less expensive version of the Quest 3, possibly called the Meta Quest 3S . This headset will cut down on some specs and features to keep the price down, but hey, the price will come down. This could be a tempting proposition for anyone who is interested in learning virtual reality but doesn’t want to spend half a thousand dollars on it. For the dozens of people looking for improvements to their Quest headsets, that may not be happening anytime soon: The Information reports that Meta has canceled its more expensive Meta Quest Pro project , which is no surprise: Apple’s Vision Pro isn’t selling very well , despite has impressive technology, and few of us are interested in the Metaverse, especially for work. There seems to be a market for affordable headsets, but there isn’t a market for consumer models costing over $1,000.
New AR glasses
If a full headset isn’t your thing, what about smart glasses? Meta is rumored to be working on a sequel to its Meta Ray Ban glasses , possibly called Meta Orion, which could add mixed reality capabilities for the first time, such as a head-up display in the right lens. The current Meta Ray Bans are equipped with smart features such as Meta AI, camera, speaker and the ability to make video calls. Our sister site PCMag found the glasses stylish, with clear sound and responsive controls, but the bass was lackluster and it was difficult to frame photos accurately. Adding augmented reality to this type of product could introduce mixed reality to a wider customer base: people might not want to walk around with full headsets, but the glasses are thin enough to be carried anywhere, especially since they don’t look alike at all. on Google Glass .
Meta AI
Expect a lot of talk about artificial intelligence at Connect this year. Meta brought AI to its Quest headsets for the first time last month, so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about new features and changes specifically for the Quest. I’m sure the company will also talk more about Meta AI on its main platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger: while I doubt it will let you turn off its AI , Meta may advertise new services that users can try out. these applications as the company competes with other artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Meta AI can now connect to the internet, generating GIFs and images as you type, so it’s definitely catching up with the big players. Meta has the advantage of an installed user base to push these new features, giving it competition to something like ChatGPT .
Open system
Don’t be caught off guard if Mark Zuckerberg starts talking about Meta’s place as a leader in this mixed reality. The company is taking steps to become the “Android” of the mixed reality industry by opening up the Meta Horizon operating system and the Quest ecosystem to third parties . Now other companies can create their own headsets using the Meta platforms, just like other manufacturers create Android smartphones or other companies create Windows-based computers.
How to watch Meta Connect 2024
Meta Connect will begin on September 25th at 10:00 am PT (1:00 pm ET). While the event will be in-person for developers and media, anyone will be able to stream it live from home. You can tune in on Meta’s YouTube page or the official Meta Connect website .