Meta Poised to Unveil AI-Powered Smart Glasses at Connect Event
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Meta expected to unveil new smart glasses at Connect event
Meta is expected to show off artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses at its Connect developer conference Wednesday as CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to evangelize the glasses as the next step in human-computer interactions. "Last year's Meta Connect was far less metaverse and far more AI. Expect this year's event to be virtually dominated by AI, specifically AI glasses and superintelligence," said Forrester research director Mike Proulx. "While Meta has the head start on AI glasses, competition is chomping at the bit with new entrants." The Menlo Park, California-based company teased a prototype for Orion, which Zuckerberg called "the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen," last year -- but these holographic augmented reality glasses are still years away from being on the market. Instead, analysts expect Meta to show off new smart glasses, likely with a small display controlled by a wristband the user wears. "While more of an experimentation platform, they should enable consumers to access time, weather, notifications, frame and preview pictures, show captions and translate speeches, allow early integration of Meta's assets (WhatsApp and Instagram), and display Meta AI responses," said Forrester's Thomas Husson. Meta is also expected to show off updates to its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which "are likely to have enhanced AI capabilities interpreting the user's surroundings and context," the analyst added. While the company has not disclosed sales figures of the glasses, it said they've been more popular than expected, helped by social media creators. "For more than a decade, Zuckerberg's long-term vision with Oculus and the Metaverse has been that glasses and headsets will blur the lines between physical and digital worlds," Husson said. "After many false starts, the momentum to move beyond an early adopter niche is now." Of course, the company will also likely share AI updates, including to its standalone Meta AI app. Like other tech companies, Meta has been making massive investments in AI development and hiring top talent at eye-popping compensation levels. In July, Zuckerberg posted a note detailing his views on "personal superintelligence" that he believes will "help humanity accelerate our pace of progress." While he said that developing superintelligence is now "in sight," he did not detail how this will be achieved or exactly what "superintelligence" means. The abstract idea of "superintelligence" is what rival companies call artificial general intelligence, or AGI. It's the latest pivot for a tech leader who in 2021 went all-in on the idea of the metaverse, changing the company's name and investing billions into advancing virtual reality and related technology. Zuckerberg said he believes AI glasses are going to be "the main way we integrate superintelligence." Zuckerberg will deliver his keynote Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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Meta set to unveil AI-powered smart glasses at Connect event:...
Meta is expected to show off artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses at its Connect developer conference on Wednesday as CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to evangelize the glasses as the next step in human-computer interactions. "Last year's Meta Connect was far less metaverse and far more AI. Expect this year's event to be virtually dominated by AI, specifically AI glasses and superintelligence," said Forrester research director Mike Proulx. "While Meta has the head start on AI glasses, competition is chomping at the bit with new entrants." The Menlo Park, California-based company teased a prototype for Orion, which Zuckerberg called "the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen," last year -- but these holographic augmented reality glasses are still years away from being on the market. Instead, analysts expect Meta to show off new smart glasses, likely with a small display controlled by a wristband the user wears. "While more of an experimentation platform, they should enable consumers to access time, weather, notifications, frame and preview pictures, show captions and translate speeches, allow early integration of Meta's assets (WhatsApp and Instagram), and display Meta AI responses," said Forrester's Thomas Husson. Meta is also expected to show off updates to its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which "are likely to have enhanced AI capabilities interpreting the user's surroundings and context," the analyst added. While the company has not disclosed sales figures of the glasses, it said they've been more popular than expected, helped by social media creators. "For more than a decade, Zuckerberg's long-term vision with Oculus and the Metaverse has been that glasses and headsets will blur the lines between physical and digital worlds," Husson said. "After many false starts, the momentum to move beyond an early adopter niche is now." Of course, the company will also likely share AI updates, including to its standalone Meta AI app. Like other tech companies, Meta has been making massive investments in AI development and hiring top talent at eye-popping compensation levels. In July, Zuckerberg posted a note detailing his views on "personal superintelligence" that he believes will "help humanity accelerate our pace of progress." While he said that developing superintelligence is now "in sight," he did not detail how this will be achieved or exactly what "superintelligence" means. The abstract idea of "superintelligence" is what rival companies call artificial general intelligence, or AGI. It's the latest pivot for a tech leader who in 2021 went all-in on the idea of the metaverse, changing the company's name and investing billions into advancing virtual reality and related technology. Zuckerberg said he believes AI glasses are going to be "the main way we integrate superintelligence." Zuckerberg will deliver his keynote Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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Meta is set to showcase new AI-powered smart glasses at its Connect developer conference, signaling a shift from metaverse to AI focus. The event is expected to highlight advancements in AI technology and Meta's vision for the future of human-computer interaction.
Meta's AI-Focused Connect Event
Meta, the tech giant formerly known as Facebook, is gearing up for its annual Connect developer conference, where it's expected to unveil new artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses. This event marks a significant shift in the company's focus from the metaverse to AI technology, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to champion smart glasses as the future of human-computer interaction
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.Forrester research director Mike Proulx anticipates that this year's Connect event will be "virtually dominated by AI, specifically AI glasses and superintelligence." He also notes that while Meta has a head start in AI glasses, competition in this space is intensifying with new entrants
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.New Smart Glasses and AI Capabilities
While Meta previously teased a prototype called Orion, described by Zuckerberg as "the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen," these holographic augmented reality glasses are still years away from market release. Instead, analysts expect Meta to showcase new smart glasses featuring a small display controlled by a wristband
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.Thomas Husson from Forrester predicts that these glasses will offer various functionalities, including:
- Accessing time and weather information
- Displaying notifications
- Framing and previewing pictures
- Showing captions and translating speeches
- Early integration with Meta's assets like WhatsApp and Instagram
- Displaying Meta AI responses
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Additionally, Meta is likely to present updates to its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which are expected to have enhanced AI capabilities for interpreting the user's surroundings and context
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.AI Advancements and 'Superintelligence'
Beyond smart glasses, Meta is expected to share updates on its AI initiatives, including its standalone Meta AI app. The company has been making substantial investments in AI development and recruiting top talent with impressive compensation packages
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.In July, Zuckerberg shared his vision of "personal superintelligence," which he believes will "help humanity accelerate our pace of progress." While he claims that developing superintelligence is now "in sight," specific details on its implementation and exact meaning remain unclear
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.This concept of superintelligence aligns with what other tech companies refer to as artificial general intelligence (AGI). It represents a pivot for Zuckerberg, who in 2021 rebranded the company and invested heavily in metaverse technology
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.Related Stories
The Future of Human-Computer Interaction
Zuckerberg's long-term vision, spanning more than a decade, has been centered on the idea that glasses and headsets will blur the lines between physical and digital worlds. After several false starts, Forrester analyst Thomas Husson believes that "the momentum to move beyond an early adopter niche is now"
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.Importantly, Zuckerberg has stated that he believes AI glasses will be "the main way we integrate superintelligence," underlining the significance of this technology in Meta's future strategy
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.As the tech world eagerly awaits Meta's Connect event, it's clear that the company is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-powered wearable technology, potentially reshaping how we interact with digital information in our daily lives.
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