Meta is behind a number of product categories and services, but at Meta Connect 2024, the company’s annual developer’s conference, don’t expect to hear news specifically pertaining to apps like Facebook or Instagram. Instead, Meta says Connect is about the “technologies of the future,” which means AR, VR, and AI. (All the acronyms.) Here’s what we expect to see.
The Meta Quest 3 is the company’s current VR headset, and while certainly not as expensive as Apple’s Vision Pro, it still costs $499 minimum.
According to the rumor mill, Meta is working on a less expensive version of the Quest 3, perhaps called the Meta Quest 3S. This headset would cut some corners in specs and features to bring the price down, but hey, the price would be down. That could be an enticing offer for any interested in getting into VR, but who doesn’t want to drop half a grand to do so. For the dozens out there looking for a spec bump in their Quest headsets, that might not be coming anytime soon: The Information says Meta canceled its pricier Meta Quest Pro project, which isn’t surprising: Apple’s Vision Pro has not sold well, despite sporting some impressive tech, and few of us have any interest in the Metaverse, especially for work. There seems to be a market for affordable headsets, but not for $1,000+ prosumer models.
New AR glasses
If a full headset isn’t your thing, how about smart glasses? Rumor has it Meta is working on a sequel to its Meta Ray Ban glasses, perhaps named Meta Orion, which may add mixed reality abilities for the first time, like a heads-up display in the right lens. The current Meta Ray Bans come with smart features, like Meta AI, a camera, a speaker, and the ability to place video calls. Our sister site PCMag found the glasses stylish, with clear sound quality and responsive controls, but the bass was lackluster and it was difficult to precisely frame photos. Adding AR to this type of product might introduce mixed reality to a larger customer base: People might not want to walk around with full headsets on, but glasses are subtle enough to bring anywhere—especially since they look nothing like Google Glass.
Expect a good deal of AI talk at this year’s Connect. Last month, Meta rolled out AI to its Quest headsets for the first time, so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about new features and changes for Quest specifically. I’m sure the company will also talk more about Meta AI on its core platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger: While I doubt it’ll let you disable its AI, Meta may advertise new services users can try out on these apps, as the company competes with other AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. Meta AI can now connect to the internet, generate GIFs, and produce images as you type, so it’s definitely catching up to the big players. Meta has the advantage of an installed user base to push these new features on, offering competition for something like ChatGPT.
An open system
Don’t be taken off guard if Mark Zuckerberg starts talking about Meta’s place as a leader in this mixed reality. The company has been making moves to be the “Android” of the mixed reality industry, by opening up the Meta Horizon OS and Quest ecosystem to third parties. Now, other companies can make their own headsets using Meta’s platforms, just as other manufacturers build smartphones around Android, or other companies build computers around Windows.
Meta Connect will kick off on Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET). While there will be an in-person keynote for developers and member of the media, anyone can livestream it from home. You can tune in from Meta’s YouTube page, or from the official Meta Connect website.
