Meta Connect 2024 kicked off with a keynote from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, showcasing new hardware and software to support two of Meta’s big ambitions: AI and the metaverse. The event featured updates on Meta’s Llama AI model, new Quest headsets, and a prototype for fully AR glasses.
One of the main announcements was Orion, described as “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.” While they won’t be available to consumers anytime soon, Orion boasts light weight, hand-tracking, eye-tracking, and neural interface capabilities. Early testers included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
The Meta Quest 3S headset was also revealed, offering a less expensive alternative to the Quest 3 starting at $299 for a 128GB version and $399 for a 256GB model. The wireless headset is compatible with existing Quest apps and games, with a focus on mixed-reality features. The Quest 3 will drop from $649 to $499.
Meta discontinued the Quest 2 and Pro headsets, which will be sold out until they’re gone or the end of the year, whichever comes first.
In AI news, Meta’s Llama family of models reached version 3.2, featuring multimodal capabilities like interpreting charts and graphs, captioning images, and pinpointing objects in pictures. The updated model can also analyze revenue graphs to identify top-performing months.
Ray-Ban’s Meta smart glasses received upgrades, including real-time AI video processing and reminders. The sunglasses will also integrate with music streaming apps like Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart Radio.
Meta showcased its AI’s capacity for visual search, allowing users to ask questions based on images and edit photos using feedback. The feature can also share edited photos to Instagram Stories.
Facebook will now pitch users on AI-generated content it thinks they’ll want to engage with or share. A test for translated, dubbed content from creators was also announced, limited to videos made in the U.S. and Latin America.
The Quest ecosystem received several new experiences, including Batman: Arkham Shadow, which launches October 22 and will be bundled with new Quest 3 and 3S purchases until April next year. Other games include Alien: Rogue Incursion for horror fans and a remake of Arizona Sunshine for zombie enthusiasts. Wordle, the daily puzzle game, was also announced for the Quest platform.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/25/meta-connect-2024-orion-glasses-quest-3s-headset-meta-ai-upgrades-ray-ban-meta-real-time-video-and-more-revealed/