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Meta is holding its annual Connect conference this month, and it’s planning to showcase its latest AR and VR hardware, as well as possible updates to its AI.
The event is scheduled for September 25 and 26, with both in-person and webcast elements. Starting at 10 am Pacific time, attendees can participate in the two-day conference either on-site or virtually through Facebook and Horizon Worlds.
It is expected to feature several sessions, showcasing technology, and speakers such as CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect.
Meta Quest 3S
It looks like Meta won’t be announcing a new expensive VR headset at Connect. However, for the past few months, the Silicon Valley-based firm has been teasing a budget-friendly headset called the Meta Quest 3S, which ReadWrite took a look at earlier this year.
While we expect it to be cheaper, and probably bigger, a bit heavier with a lower-resolution display – all things designed to cut costs and also push you towards the Quest 3 if you can possibly afford it, the Quest 3S is rumored to be as powerful at least as it’s bigger sibling – it just won’t be as ‘good’.
The Quest 3S appears to be more of an upgrade from the Quest 2 than a simplified version of the Quest 3. It has two sets of three cameras on the front, arranged in a rather cute triangular pattern on each side. In addition, it seems to include a new physical button underneath that isn’t present on the Quest 3. According to speculation, this button is meant to activate passthrough, removing the need for the side sensor that users double-tap on the Quest 3 to enable this feature.
Meta Quest 3S and game compatibility
The Quest 3S may support Meta Quest 3-exclusive games, including upcoming titles like Batman Arkham Shadow, as well as other Quest 3 exclusives released in 2024.
Meta stated in August: “Batman: Arkham Shadow will push Meta Quest 3 to its limits, giving players an up-close look at Gotham City and delivering an Arkham experience that will resonate with longtime fans.
“We’re very excited about this one, and can’t wait to get it in your hands come October.”
While the Meta Quest 3 starts at $499, the Meta Quest 3s is said to drop that price to an impressive $299, or the same price the Oculus Quest 2 debuted at back in 2020.
Orion AR glasses
The Orion AR glasses are reportedly designed to deliver genuine visual AR experiences with digital overlays that blend seamlessly with the real-world view, unlike Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, which tend to focus on audio and camera features.
It is said that it will come with holographic displays, microphones, cameras and AI integration, and could also be a standalone device.
Quite a few glasses prototypes on Mark Zuckerberg's desk.
Could some of these have AR, or at least a HUD? pic.twitter.com/YPKtdDV25s
— David Heaney (@Heaney555) February 5, 2024
As seen in the background of one Zuckerberg photo, and to some extent confirmed by him, Orion resembles a pair of chunky hipster frames.
Meta CTO and Reality Labs chief Andrew Bosworth told The Verge that the tech was “the most advanced thing that we’ve ever produced as a species.” While in an interview with Blueprint Podcast, Zuckerberg added: “The glasses are, I think, going to be a big deal.
“We’re almost ready to start showing the prototype version of the full holographic glasses. We’re not going to be selling it broadly; we’re focused on building the full consumer version rather than selling the prototype.”
Meta’s first consumer AR glasses are expected to come out in 2027, according to a leaked Meta roadmap. It’s likely that we’ll see a concept device introduced later this year.
Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses
While Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses aren’t perfect, as its AI feature is currently only available in the US and Canada, it is still leading the way in the smart glasses ecosystem.
On September 17, Ray-Bans owner EssilorLuxottica announced they would continue their partnership to produce these branded smart glasses. That means Meta may soon provide an update on its Ray-Bans, although recent reports indicate that Google has also been in talks with the global eyewear giant. Regardless, Meta is likely eager to highlight its AI chatbot integrations in both Ray-Bans and Orion.
We may finally see a rollout of its AI features across more countries, so expect fresh chatbot assistant experiences on the way.
The leaked roadmap reveals that the company plans to launch a new pair of Ray-Ban smart glasses next year, with a small built-in screen in addition to the existing camera, speaker, and microphone.
More Meta AI
Meta has been pushing its AI platform to more devices throughout the year, including the launch of Meta AI on the Quest at the end of July and its earlier integration into Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Given the platform can be injected across Meta’s key products, such as Facebook and Instagram, it’s expected that Connect will feature new announcements about how Meta’s AI can help bridge gaps between iOS, Android, Windows, and other platforms.
The company is may also highlight improvements powered by its Llama 3.1 large language model (LLM), which is being positioned as an open-source alternative to Google’s and OpenAI’s LLMs. Llama 3.1 promises major advancements in translation, math, and general knowledge capabilities.
Chatbots remain central to Meta’s AI plan. The company had already introduced AI-generated characters resembling Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton. However, the celebrity versions were given the boot only a year after they were launched. Avatars of Kendall Jenner and Tom Brady were all axed after it failed to resonate with users.
“We took a lot of learnings from building them and Meta AI to understand how people can use AIs to connect and create in unique ways,” a Meta spokesperson told media outlets in August.
Despite this, Meta is expected to continue this trend by allowing users to create personalized AI versions of themselves and custom chatbots, despite the potential risks of misinformation associated with such freewheeling customization.
ReadWrite has reached out to Meta for comment.
Featured image: Ideogram
