From AR to AI: Expected announcements at Meta Connect 2024
Meta Connect 2024, previously known as Oculus Connect and Facebook Connect, is set to showcase Meta's latest advancements. The event will kick off virtually on September 25 and run for two days. It will primarily focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR). This comes as part of Meta's strategy to remain competitive in an AI-driven future, following Apple's Vision Pro launch that sparked a brief surge in AR interest.
'Orion' AR glasses
Meta is expected to introduce its AR glasses, codenamed Orion, at the event. These glasses are designed to overlay holographic images onto real-world views. Unlike previous models from Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens, Orion aims to be less bulky. Zuckerberg has expressed his enthusiasm for the Orion project, stating that the glasses are "going to be a big deal." He revealed plans to showcase the prototype version of these full holographic glasses soon, followed by a consumer version in 2027.
A more affordable VR headset
In addition to the AR glasses, Meta is also anticipated to launch a more affordable version of Quest 3, dubbed Quest 3S. This information comes from leaked images found in Meta's own Quest Link application. The goal is to offer a device similar to the existing Quest 3 but at a lower price point, potentially around $300 or $400. This could potentially replace the older model, Quest 2, which remains on sale at $299 despite its launch back in 2020.
AI advancements and future plans
Meta is expected to highlight its AI advancements across its Quest headsets and the Ray-Ban smart glasses at the event. The company introduced multi-modal AI search capabilities on these glasses earlier this year, allowing users to ask the Meta AI about objects or landmarks they were viewing, or for quick translations. Improvements to these features are likely to be discussed at the event, with a focus on implementing Llama 3.1 large language model (LLM).