Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will take the stage on September 25 to deliver a keynote address about all things AR and VR, chatbots, headsets, smart glasses, and generative AI.
Meta Connect, the big developer event and hardware showcase from the company that runs Facebook and Instagram, is kicking off next week. Meta is likely to show off its new VR and mixed-reality technology, put a shiny polish on its meandering metaverse ambitions, and delve into all the fresh ways it plans to squeeze artificial intelligence into every crevice of its devices and services.
The focus of the event will likely be a fusion of Meta’s mixed-reality efforts and its AI ambitions across its product line. Here are the big things to look out for:
Rumors abound about a so-called Meta Quest 3S, a headset which could be a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3 with lighter features. Meta was briefly the bigwig in the AR/VR space 10 years ago when it bought the VR company Oculus, but has since struggled to find its virtual footing.
Other companies, such as Apple, have also struggled to find their virtual footing. Apple released its first-mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, in February, but the product was widely criticized as being expensive, heavy, and lonely.