From futuristic AR glasses, to massive updates to AI, here are the 6 biggest announcements from Meta Connect 2024

Meta Connect 2024 was a whirlwind of announcements, showcasing the company’s ambitious plans for augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and new hardware. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, led the keynote with a slew of innovations, ranging from futuristic AR glasses to advanced AI capabilities.

The event was packed with groundbreaking reveals, including the debut of the Orion AR glasses prototype, the introduction of the Meta Quest 3S headset, and significant updates to Meta’s AI and Ray-Ban Smart Glasses.

Orion AR Glasses - Metas new take on AR
The biggest surprise of the event was undoubtedly the introduction of Meta’s Orion AR glasses, a prototype that offers a fully holographic experience. Unlike anything seen before, these glasses are designed to look like regular eyewear, albeit slightly thicker, with a lot of advanced technology hidden within.

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The glasses feature a new display architecture and are entirely see-through, allowing users to interact with virtual objects seamlessly integrated into the real world. Control is achieved through a neural-network-based hand gesture system, operated by a wristband.

Demos at the event showcased the glasses being used in various scenarios, from gaming to overlaying windows on the user’s field of vision. A brief glimpse of video calling through personal avatars was also shown, indicating the potential for these glasses to revolutionise how people communicate. Despite being only in the prototype stage, the Orion glasses were praised for their lightness, achieved through a magnesium frame and silicon carbide lenses.

Meta, however, acknowledged that these glasses are still a few years away from consumer availability, with the price being a significant factor that needs addressing. Nonetheless, early developer kits are expected to be released to select individuals soon.

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Meta Quest 3S is now official
Another major highlight was the official announcement of the Meta Quest 3S, a mixed-reality headset that aims to make this advanced technology more accessible. Rumours had been swirling for some time, but Meta finally made it official. The Quest 3S is positioned as the entry-level device in the Quest headset lineup, with a price starting at $299.99 / £289.99 / AU$499.99 for the 128GB model.

The design of the Quest 3S is reminiscent of its predecessor, the Quest 3, but with a few notable changes, particularly in the front camera stack. The headset is built to deliver high-quality mixed reality at a more affordable price, making it accessible to a broader audience.

Initial hands-on experiences highlighted the power of the onboard Qualcomm processor, which effortlessly handled the Horizon OS, gaming experiences like Batman: Arkham Shadow, and multitasking across multiple windows. The Quest 3S is shaping up to be a compelling option for those looking to explore mixed reality without breaking the bank.

Meta AI, now with celebrity voices and enhanced capabilities
Meta also made significant strides in AI, introducing a range of updates to its Meta AI platform. One of the most exciting developments is the addition of voice to the AI chatbot, with the voices of celebrities like John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell being among the first to be introduced.

This new feature allows users to engage in realistic, human-like conversations with Meta AI through various apps, including Facebook, Instagram DM, WhatsApp, and Messenger. This enhancement brings Meta AI in line with other major AI players, such as OpenAI, Google, and Apple, all of which are integrating voice capabilities into their AI products.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses get smarter
While not as groundbreaking as the Orion prototype, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses received a substantial update. These glasses, which have already gained popularity, now offer hands-free access to various audio services, such as Spotify and Audible. Users can request specific songs or genres, and the glasses will provide a natural, conversational interaction, powered by Meta AI.

In addition to audio enhancements, the Ray-Ban Smart Glasses will soon be able to handle language translation queries. Users can look at text in languages like Spanish, French, or Italian and have Meta AI translate it in real-time. This feature was demonstrated at the event and performed well in a controlled environment. Other updates include visual reminders, faster lens transitions to sunglasses, and Meta AI capabilities for video content. All these features are expected to roll out before 2025, making the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses even more versatile and user-friendly.

A new image generation tool for Facebook and Instagram|
Finally, Meta announced the integration of AI image generation into Facebook and Instagram, bringing its Imagine feature to these platforms. Similar to Apple’s Image Playground, this tool allows users to create images of anything they can imagine and share them directly on their social media feeds.

This feature is expected to add a new dimension to how users create and interact with content on Facebook and Instagram, offering endless creative possibilities.

AI Translation for Instagram reels: breaking language barriers
Meta is also pushing the boundaries of AI in social media with a new translation tool for Instagram and Facebook Reels. This tool, currently being tested in the US and Latin America, allows content creators to reach a wider audience through automatic dubbing and lip-syncing.

The goal is to enable users to watch video content from around the world in their language without the need for subtitles. This could be a game-changer for content creators and consumers alike, making it easier to engage with content from different cultures and languages.