Best Announcements from Meta Connect 2024
Meta Connect 2024 was nothing short of groundbreaking, offering a vision of how the company plans to shape the future of immersive technology and AI. From affordable mixed reality headsets to cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) glasses and smarter AI-powered tools, Meta made several big announcements that demonstrate their relentless drive towards pushing the boundaries of human-computer interaction. Here’s a closer look at the most exciting announcements from Meta Connect 2024.
Introducing Meta Quest 3S: Mixed Reality for Everyone
Meta is democratising access to mixed reality with the new Meta Quest 3S, a more affordable version of the popular Meta Quest 3 headset. At just USD299.99, the Quest 3S offers the same fast performance and mixed reality capabilities as the Quest 3, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s designed for newcomers to mixed reality, making it easier for more people to enjoy immersive gaming, fitness, entertainment, and productivity tools.
This release lowers the entry barrier for those who might have been hesitant to invest in a higher-end device like the Quest 3. With the same powerful features—like full-colour Passthrough, improved spatial audio, and enhanced app support—Meta Quest 3S promises an unparalleled mixed reality experience. The Quest 3S also integrates with Meta’s growing library of apps and games, including the much-anticipated Batman: Arkham Shadow, making it an exciting option for budget-conscious users.
In tandem with the launch of Quest 3S, Meta also announced a price drop for the 512GB Meta Quest 3, now available for USD499.99. This model remains Meta’s top-tier offering for tech enthusiasts and gamers, providing superior visuals, more storage, and enhanced performance.
Orion: The Future of Augmented Reality
Perhaps the most significant announcement of Meta Connect 2024 was the unveiling of Orion, Meta’s first true augmented reality glasses. Touted as the most advanced AR glasses ever made, Orion aims to merge the physical and digital worlds seamlessly, offering an immersive AR experience in a sleek, lightweight form factor.
Unlike other AR headsets on the market, Orion is designed to look and feel like a regular pair of glasses. The breakthrough lies in its holographic displays and contextual AI, which allow users to interact with digital content superimposed over their view of the real world. Whether multitasking with virtual windows, having life-sized holographic conversations, or getting real-time assistance from Meta AI, Orion redefines what AR can achieve.
Though Orion is not yet available to consumers, Meta is opening up access to select employees and external audiences to further develop the technology. This deliberate approach aims to refine the product for a broader consumer launch in the near future.
Meta AI Gets More Capable and Fun
AI took centre stage at Connect 2024 with a series of exciting updates to Meta’s AI products. The company introduced new multimodal capabilities powered by the Llama 3.2 models, making Meta AI even more versatile and user-friendly. Now, users can talk to Meta AI across platforms like Messenger, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs, with the assistant responding out loud. You can also choose from fun, celebrity voice options like Awkwafina, John Cena, and Dame Judi Dench.
In addition to voice interactions, Meta AI can now answer questions about your photos and even help with photo editing. For example, you can send a picture of a flower to Meta AI, and it will identify it for you, or request it to tweak your photo’s background, outfit, or other elements.
Meta is also testing a new translation tool for Reels, allowing content to reach a global audience with automatic dubbing and lip-syncing in different languages. As Meta AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that it’s on track to become the most-used AI assistant in the world, with more than 400 million people already using it monthly.
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Get Smarter
Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban continues to bear fruit, and at Connect 2024, the company revealed new AI features for Ray-Ban Meta glasses. These stylish, AI-powered glasses now offer features like real-time speech translation, hands-free reminders, and AI-powered voice commands, making everyday tasks easier and more intuitive.
Imagine exploring a new city and asking your glasses for information about landmarks or letting the AI help you plan meals at the grocery store based on what you’re seeing. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses also support integrations with Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart, providing more ways to enjoy entertainment on the go.
For fashion enthusiasts, a new limited edition Shiny Transparent Wayfarer frame was introduced, showcasing the tech inside the glasses with a transparent look. Coupled with advanced UltraTransitions GEN S lenses, these glasses offer a perfect blend of style and function.
AI Tools for Businesses: Enhancing Customer Experience
Meta isn’t just focusing on consumer applications of AI; businesses are also getting a major boost with expanded AI tools. Thousands of businesses using click-to-message ads on platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger can now easily set up AI agents to handle customer queries, assist with purchases, and offer personalised support. These business AIs are expected to streamline interactions and increase sales, making Meta’s AI tools indispensable for companies of all sizes.
Meta’s generative AI ad tools are also seeing rapid adoption, with over 15 million ads created last month alone. Businesses using these tools have seen an 11% higher click-through rate and a 7.6% higher conversion rate, underscoring the growing impact of AI in advertising.
A Bold Leap Forward for Mixed Reality and AI
Meta Connect 2024 solidified Meta’s position as a leader in the realms of mixed reality, AR, and AI. The announcements made during the event show a clear commitment to making cutting-edge technology more accessible, immersive, and practical. From the affordable Meta Quest 3S to the groundbreaking Orion AR glasses and smarter Meta AI, Meta is positioning itself at the forefront of a future where the lines between the physical and digital worlds blur—empowering people to interact with technology in more natural and intuitive ways. The future of immersive experiences has never looked more exciting.
