Meta’s annual keynote is scheduled to take place on September 25 and September 26 at Menlo Park, California. Although Meta Connect 2024 spans two days, the majority of product announcements are expected during the opening keynote on the first day at 1 PM E.T. Interested individuals can watch the event live on the Meta for Developers page on Facebook. Additionally, attendees can immerse themselves in the event using the Meta Quest headset through Meta Horizon. According to the company, this virtual experience, inspired by their Menlo Park campus, will enable participants to “meet people, join with friends, and unlock exclusive rewards.”
### Anticipated Announcements at Meta Connect 2024
Meta Connect will primarily focus on the company’s latest AI enhancements and their integration with new hardware. The prominent highlight is expected to be the “Orion” smart glasses, which Mark Zuckerberg briefly showcased in a Threads post earlier this year. Reports suggest that these glasses will feature a projector on the right-hand lens and will be notably heavier than standard eyeglasses.
Additionally, an entry-level headset, Meta Quest 3S, is anticipated to join the existing budget-friendly Meta headset lineup. This “lite” version could potentially be several hundred dollars cheaper than the $500 Quest 3, enhancing the affordability of Meta’s offerings compared to the highly-priced Apple Vision Pro. According to a leak on Reddit, the Meta Quest 3S might be priced at $300 and equipped with a pair of external sensors, though it may offer limited passthrough capabilities.
Meta is also expected to continue its collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Ray-Bans, possibly unveiling new frame styles for its Meta Ray-Bans. Furthermore, there are expectations that Meta will advance its recent AI developments in conjunction with smart glasses, particularly the Orion model.
Updates are also anticipated on Meta’s ongoing AI projects. Observers are keen to learn about the future direction of Meta’s Llama LLM (large language model). There might also be news on improvements to the company’s AI Studio, which enables the creation of AI chatbots without requiring coding skills. This feature is particularly targeted at influencers, allowing them to use AI to interact with fans on their behalf.
