Meta Connect 2024 is a highly anticipated event for developers, featuring a keynote speech from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. During the event, Zuckerberg showcased new hardware and software that support Meta’s two major goals: AI and the metaverse. This included the unveiling of new Quest headsets, updates to Meta’s Llama AI model, and a prototype for fully AR glasses. The event was live-streamed on September 25 at 10 a.m. PT and can still be watched on Meta Connect’s website or on Meta’s developer Facebook page. Additionally, attendees could experience the full immersion of the metaverse through Horizon Worlds on their Meta Quest headsets. As the event continues, we will be compiling all the announcements and reveals from Meta Connect 2024 and updating the list as more reactions and analysis become available. One of the biggest reveals was Meta’s new Orion glasses, which the company claims will eventually become their first consumer full holographic AR glasses. These glasses are lightweight, have hand-tracking and eye-tracking capabilities, and even a neural interface. Early testers, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, have been impressed with the Orion glasses. Another major announcement was the launch of the Meta Quest 3S headset, which starts at $299 for a 128GB version and $399 for a 256GB version. This wireless headset is compatible with existing Quest apps and games, but also boasts mixed-reality features. With the release of the Quest 3S, the Quest 3 will see a price drop from $649 to $499. In addition, Meta announced that they will be discontinuing the Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets, with remaining stock being sold until the end of the year. Finally, Meta AI is getting a voice, allowing users to interact with the digital assistant through voice commands on Messenger, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Multiple voice options, including celebrity voices, will be available for users to choose from.
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