What to expect from Meta Connect 2024?

Meta Connect 2024 is set to be one of the most anticipated tech events of the year, bringing together industry leaders, developers, and enthusiasts to explore the evolving world of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Metaverse.

Hosted by Meta (formerly Facebook), the event showcases the company’s latest breakthroughs in these domains, offering deep insights into how these technologies will shape our future.

As the world looks toward what the next wave of digital transformation might look like, Meta Connect 2024 will be crucial in unveiling both the technology and philosophy behind the evolution of the Metaverse and the role of AI in making it accessible to everyone.

What to expect from Meta Connect 2024?

While the Metaverse concept has faced some skepticism, Meta remains committed to building out the virtual world. And with AI and AR becoming more prominent across tech, Meta Connect 2024 will offer insights into how the company plans to integrate these technologies in new and innovative ways.

The event will take place on September 25 and 26, 2024, with a keynote presentation starting at 1 PM ET

Here’s what you can expect from Meta Connect 2024:

Cheaper Quest 3 variant: The Quest 3S

For those interested in VR, a more affordable version of Meta’s popular Quest 3 headset—likely named Quest 3S—is expected to make its debut at Meta Connect 2024. Leaked images and rumors suggest that the Quest 3S could come in at a significantly lower price point, perhaps as low as $299.

The Quest 3S is rumored to offer similar functionality to the Quest 3 but with some cost-saving adjustments. Meta may release it without bundled controllers or reduce the processing power slightly to make the headset more accessible. With the Quest 2 getting older and the Quest 3 sitting at a higher price point, the Quest 3S could hit the sweet spot for casual users and developers.

New AR glasses: Project Orion

Perhaps one of the most exciting prospects is Meta’s highly anticipated AR glasses, codenamed Orion. These glasses, teased by Meta executives over the past year, could revolutionize how we interact with the digital world. Unlike VR headsets, which immerse you fully in virtual environments, Orion AR glasses will overlay digital information and holograms onto the real world, creating a more natural, augmented experience.

Earlier hints from Meta’s leadership suggest that these glasses will be lightweight, potentially resembling normal eyewear, but capable of delivering rich, interactive AR features. Zuckerberg himself has called them one of Meta’s most exciting innovations to date. Although it’s unlikely these AR glasses will be available to consumers right away, Meta Connect 2024 could give us a first look at what’s to come.

Meta will likely showcase the Llama 3.1 AI model, an open-source competitor to Google’s Bard and OpenAI’s GPT, with improved translation and reasoning capabilities Llama 3.1 and beyond

Meta is not just about AR and VR anymore—artificial intelligence will also play a significant role at Meta Connect 2024.

Meta’s AI capabilities have expanded dramatically in recent years, particularly with the release of its Llama language models. At this year’s event, expect more discussions around Llama 3.1, Meta’s latest open-source AI model, which is being positioned as a rival to Google’s Bard and OpenAI’s GPT models.

Llama 3.1 is rumored to offer major improvements in language translation, mathematical reasoning, and general knowledge. These AI advancements will likely be integrated across Meta’s hardware, from the Ray-Ban smart glasses to VR headsets, allowing users to interact more intuitively with their surroundings.

When is Meta Connect 2024?

Meta Connect 2024 is scheduled for September 25 and 26, 2024. The two-day event will start with a keynote on September 25 at 1 PM ET, where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to showcase the company’s latest innovations in AI, AR, and VR.

How to watch Meta Connect 2024?

You can watch the event live on the Meta for Developers Facebook page or through Horizon Worlds, where Meta is creating a virtual event space for VR users. If you’re not able to tune in live, the event will be recorded and available to view on Meta’s YouTube channel after the event ends.

For AR, VR, and AI users, Meta Connect 2024 is a must-watch event, packed with product announcements, future tech insights, and development tools. Whether you’re looking forward to new consumer hardware or want to see how AI will shape the Metaverse, this year’s Meta Connect will provide a comprehensive view of what’s coming next.

Image credits: Meta