Meta Connect Conference 2023: New Ray-Ban AR smart glasses launched starting at $299 & other announcements

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, took the stage at the Meta Connect Conference 2023, marking the company's first in-person event since the start of the pandemic, to unveil a range of groundbreaking AI products and the latest developments in the world of virtual reality (VR).

Rayban collaborate with Meta to create smart glasses with Meta AI.

Google Glass was ahead of it’s time. pic.twitter.com/nHYd0Z39Zs

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— Aadit Sheth (@aaditsh) September 27, 2023

Zuckerberg announced that a new generation of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses is set to ship on 17 October 2023, priced at an affordable $299. These smart glasses incorporate a cutting-edge Meta AI assistant and have the remarkable capability to livestream a user's point of view directly to Facebook and Instagram.

Just got smarter. Next gen POV with #RayBanMeta pic.twitter.com/2fKzq7AYWO

— Ray-Ban (@ray_ban) September 27, 2023

Additionally, Meta's smart glasses offer the ability to make phone calls, enjoy music playback, and even live stream directly from your eyewear. This marks a significant advancement over the previous generation, which could only capture photos.

The latest Quest mixed-reality headset

Zuckerberg also shared exciting news regarding the Quest mixed-reality headset. The latest iteration will begin shipping on 10 October 2023, offering users an immersive VR experience.

The best #MetaQuest3 news? #MetaConnect2023

📢 Ships October 10
📢 Pre-Order TODAY
📢 Starts at $499

Pre-Order: https://t.co/10jPROr08w pic.twitter.com/UbAe6onWaK — Meta Quest (@MetaQuestVR) September 27, 2023

 

The Quest mixed-reality headset from Meta is a cutting-edge device that offers users an immersive blend of virtual and real-world experiences. Priced at $499, it brings this mixed-reality technology to a broader audience, making it more accessible than ever.

Consumer-facing generative AI products

Meta introduced its first consumer-facing generative AI products, which include the remarkable chatbot, ‘Meta AI.’ This chatbot can generate both text responses and photo-realistic images, enhancing user experiences across the Meta ecosystem.

Integration of Meta AI

Meta AI will be integrated into the new smart glasses as an assistant, initially rolling out in beta in the United States. A forthcoming software update planned for the next year will empower the assistant to identify objects and locations, as well as provide language translation services.

a big day https://t.co/5CTqULsfuT

— Meta (@Meta) July 18, 2023

 

Meta developed Meta AI using a custom model based on the powerful Llama 2 large language model released for public commercial use in July. The chatbot will access real-time information through a partnership with Microsoft's Bing search engine.

Custom AI bots

Meta announced plans to create a platform for developers and users alike to build custom AI bots. These bots will have profiles on Instagram and Facebook and eventually appear as avatars in the Metaverse. To showcase the platform's capabilities, Meta introduced 28 chatbots with diverse personalities, each styled after celebrities such as Charli D'Amelio, Snoop Dogg, and Tom Brady.

In an additional announcement, Zuckerberg revealed that Xbox cloud gaming is set to launch on Quest in December 2023, expanding the gaming capabilities of the VR headset.

Future monetisation plans

While these features aim to enhance existing apps and devices, Meta appears more focused on building a platform for developers than immediate monetisation. Analysts suggest that monetisation of AI products by Meta may not occur for quite some time, taking a more indirect route to generate revenue.