Meta’s annual keynote is scheduled to take place on September 25 and September 26 at Menlo Park in California. Although Meta Connect 2024 spans two days, it is anticipated that most product announcements will be made during the opening keynote on the first day at 1 PM E.T. The event can be viewed live on the Meta for Developers Facebook page. Additionally, there is an option to experience the event in an immersive way using the Meta Quest headset via Meta Horizon. This virtual experience, inspired by Meta’s Menlo Park campus, allows participants to “meet people, join with friends, and unlock exclusive rewards,” according to the company.
### What to Expect at Meta Connect 2024?
Meta Connect 2024 is expected to focus primarily on the company’s new AI enhancements, showcasing how these advancements interact with its latest hardware. A key highlight will likely be the “Orion” smart glasses, briefly unveiled by Mark Zuckerberg in a Threads post earlier this year. Reports from The Information suggest these glasses will include a projector on the right-hand lens and will be notably heavier than a standard pair of glasses.
Also anticipated is the introduction of an entry-level headset, the Meta Quest 3S, which will join Meta’s existing line of budget-friendly headsets. This “lite” version is reportedly set to be a few hundred dollars cheaper than the $500 Quest 3, potentially making Meta’s headset lineup a more attractive option compared to the higher-priced Apple Vision Pro. According to a Reddit leak, this new headset might be priced at $300 and come equipped with a pair of external sensors, although it may offer limited passthrough capabilities.
Meta is also expected to extend its collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Ray-Bans, potentially introducing new frame styles of the Meta Ray-Bans. However, it is more likely that advancements in some of Meta’s recent AI offerings will be integrated into the smart glasses or the Orion.
Updates on Meta’s ongoing AI projects are also anticipated. There is interest in seeing the future direction of Meta’s Llama LLM (large language model). Additionally, there may be updates to the AI Studio, which allows users to create AI chatbots without coding experience. This feature is particularly aimed at influencers, enabling them to deploy AI to interact with their fans on their behalf.