Meta Connect 2024 Live Updates: Mark Zuckerberg unveils new Quest 3S, Llama 3.2 model, and AI upgrades to Ray-Ban smart glasses

Meta Connect 2024 Live Updates: Meta’s annual developer conference will see new iterations of its flagship virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) wearables infused with artificial intelligence.

Meta Connect 2024 Live: Meta held its Connect 2024 event on Wednesday, September 25, where it introduced the new and affordable Quest 3S headset besides a slew of new AI features powered by its latest Llama 3.2 model.

In his opening keynote, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the Quest 3S will be available for a lower price tag of $300 along with a free copy of the Batman Arkham: Shadow video game. Meta is also adding several new AI features such as Live Translation to the Ray-Ban smart glasses, which will now have the ability to remember things.

Zuckerberg further demonstrated the fully functioning prototype of Orion, the company’s first consumer-grade full holographic AR glasses. Meta AI with Voice, automatic dubbing, and lip syncing were some other AI features that were announced at the annual developer conference.

Live Updates
23:27 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta Orion glasses to have neural interface

Meta's Orion glasses has a new display architecture made out of silicon-carbide (not glass) to put holograms in different depths and sizes in front of the world in front of you. It will have voice in AI, hand-tracking, eye-tracking, and a neural interface. The wrist-based neural interface on Orion will let you control things through brain signals.

23:20 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta teases first AR smart glasses

It is the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen, says Zuckerberg, while showing off the latest prototype of Orion.

23:17 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta-Ray-Ban smartglasses will aid blind people

Meta says it is partnering with an app called Be My Eyes to help visually-impaired people. The smart glasses will see what is front of them and describe it to them. "Thanks to the glasses and POV video calling, the volunteer can easily see your point of view and tell you about your surroundings or give you some real-time, hands-free assistance with everyday tasks, like adjusting the thermostat or sorting and reading mail," Meta said.

23:15 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta demoes Live Translation on its Ray-Ban smart glasses

23:13 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta-Ray-Ban smart glasses get AI upgrades

Besides app integrations with Spotify and Amazon Music, the Meta-Ray-Ban smart glasses will have the ability to help users remember things through a new AI feature. It will also have multi-modal video AI to give users real-time help while they are doing things like suggestions on a party outfit as you go. These features will be coming out in the coming months.

23:07 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Llama 3.2 model makes debut

It will be available everywhere but the EU, says Zuckerberg.

23:04 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Zuckerberg demoes AI voice mode in Meta AI

Meta AI is powered by a new Llama 3.2 model that is open-source and multi-modal. It is also rolling out Meta AI with Voice in the voices of celebrities such as Kristen Bell and Awkwafina.

23:00 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta AI is at 500 million monthly active users

One of the simplest use cases for AI is your AI assistant, Meta AI differentiates itself in this category by offering unlimited access to these models integrated into Meta products, says Zuckerberg.

22:57 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Batman Arkham on Quest 3S

"Quest 3S is compatible with our full library of thousands of apps and games, plus upcoming Quest 3 and 3S exclusives like Batman: Arkham Shadow. Games that received Quest 3-specific performance updates will also work on Quest 3S, which means you’ll benefit from the same upgraded visuals and faster load times," Meta said.

22:53 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
The Meta Quest 3S is here!

Mark Zuckerberg touts it as the highest-quality mixed reality experience on the market. Priced at $299 and available for shipping starting October 15, this device boasts features like advanced mixed reality, hand tracking, and Touch Plus controllers. With access to thousands of apps and games, the Quest 3S is designed to offer an immersive and optimised experience for a wide range of gaming genres. The device seems to be positioning itself as a game-changer in the world of virtual and augmented reality.

22:48 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Mark Zuckerberg takes the stage

22:37 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Where's Mark?

We're ten minutes past the scheduled time of 10:30pm and the live-stream is yet to begin. Oh, and there's 23,000 Facebook users tuned into the live-stream so far.

22:18 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
T-15 minutes to go

There's around 300 people on the live-stream so far. In case you were struggling to find the live-stream link to Meta Connect 2024, click here and thank us later.

22:13 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
AI celebrity voices on the cards?

A few days ago, Reuters reported that Meta was planning to announce a new AI feature that will let users give its Meta AI chatbot the voice of a celebrity. The list of celebrities reportedly includes actors Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, John Cena, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key. We may hear more about these new AI audio capabilities at today's annual Connect conference.

21:47 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta to hold AI hackathon in Bengaluru

A few days ago, Meta announced that it will be organising an AI Hackathon with Llama in Bengaluru on October 19 and 20. At this event, participants will compete with each other to tackle real-world challenges themed around AI.

21:42 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta Quest 4 and Quest 4S release

According to The Information, Meta is planning to release its highly-anticipated Quest 4 and 4S models only in 2026. The two consumer-focused, premium headsets have reportedly been codenamed Pismo Low and Pismo High. However, the tech giant is expected to introduce Quest 3S, the more affordable option in the lineup, today. These developments come in the backdrop of Meta's efforts to cut the spending of Reality Labs, its XR and metaverse arm, by 20 per cent, as per the report.

21:20 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta Quest 3 specs leaked?

In the run-up to the Meta Connect 2024 event, certain features of the Quest 3S have apparently been leaked thanks to a Walmart display. Based on the rumours, Batman: Arkham Shadow is the video game that will be included with the mixed-reality headset, which will likely have slightly lower resolution per-eye. It is expected to be priced at $299 (Rs 25,000 approx.)

20:16 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta Connect 2024: What's on the agenda?

With just hours to go for Meta's Connect 2024 event to begin, here's a list of the developer-focused sessions that have been planned for later:

- Momentum with mixed-reality

- Get started with mixed reality

- Paths and pitfalls of mixed reality design

- How we’re improving the Meta Horizon developer experience

- Learn about Meta Quest devices

- Making Meta Quest 3 shine: tools, tips and best practices for maximum performance

- Unlocking more with 2D apps on Meta Horizon

- Introducing the new Meta spatial app framework

- Yeeps: A Meta Horizon Start success story

- Launch and grow in the Meta Horizon Store

- Llama 101

- How Meta technologies are built with Llama models

20:11 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
What will Mark Zuckerberg's keynote focus on?

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to take the stage and kick off the annual developer conference with a keynote in which he will share "the latest developments in mixed reality, AI and wearables." He will also talk about "how Meta is building towards the next computing platforms" and give viewers a first look at new products and features.

18:36 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Recap: Meta Connect 2023

At last year’s annual developer conference, Meta had unveiled the Quest 3 mixed-reality headset powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with a Microsoft 365 integration and design adjustments for glass wearers.

It had also introduced upgraded Ray-Ban smart glasses featuring a 2MP wide-angle camera that’s capable of recording 1080p video at 60fps and comes with five mics as well as built-in speakers improved for directional audio.

Connect 2023 further saw the debut of Meta AI, the AI virtual assistant that has now been integrated with WhatsApp, Instagram, etc, and the company had revealed that Xbox Cloud Gaming was coming to Quest 3. Judging by last year’s event, we can probably expect to hear about some brand new AI features for the first time.

17:34 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Can Meta pull off AI hardware?

The gambit on AI hardware has not been going well for some tech companies, with returns of the Humane Pin outpacing sales and user complaints against Rabbit R1 devices. However, Meta's smart glasses are a slightly different story because they are more affordable and look good. Currently, the AI features that come with these smart glasses can identify objects and tell wearers more about them. It is also integrated with Meta AI, which can be used to translate menus or write Instagram captions. But what other AI improvements are coming to Meta's smart glasses? We'll be keeping an eye out.

17:21 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
The Meta-Ray-Ban collaboration

Earlier this month, Meta announced that it will continue to work with eyewear conglomerate EssilorLuxottica in building new smart glasses till 2030 and even beyond that. The recently extended partnership between the tech giant and the Ray-Ban maker began in 2019, leading to the release of two models of smart glasses so far.

“I’m excited about our long term roadmap ahead. We have the opportunity to turn glasses into the next major technology platform, and make it fashionable in the process,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a press release.

16:33 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
What do we know about Project Orion?

The buzz around Meta Connect 2024 is all about the tech giant's smart AR glasses that has apparently been dubbed internally as 'Project Orion'. Rumour has it that Meta’s Orion AR glasses are likely to function similarly to a Meta Quest headset and are likely to include a holographic-style display for each eye.

However, they are probably going to be much easier to wear and use than a Quest headset, especially outdoors. The Orion glasses is also expected to include cameras and microphones along with built-in AI features. Though, the real question is: How expensive will the Orion AR smart glasses be?

16:31 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta's new AR smart glasses

Did Mark Zuckerberg accidentally leak Meta's new AR smart glasses? Well, rumours have been swirling for months that Meta is working on a new pair of AR smart glasses after a user with a keen eye spotted it in a Threads post by Zuckerberg. Rather than deny it, the CEO replied that more information will be revealed later this year. Was that "later" supposed to mean the annual developer conference happening today? We'll have to wait and watch.

16:21 (IST) 25 Sep 2024
Meta Connect 2024: What to expect

Here's a short list of everything we expect Meta to announce at its annual developer conference:

- A cheaper VR headset

- New and improved Meta-Ray-Ban smart glasses

- Orion AR glasses

- Upgraded Llama 3.1 language model

- Improvements in Meta AI

 
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