LOL Cry! This year's Meta Connect: "A real eye-opener"

``` Zhidx reported on September 18 that this morning, the "Annual XR Spring Festival Gala" Meta Connect conference officially kicked off! AI glasses were the absolute highlight of the event, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg jogging in wearing AI glasses and unveiling three new products in quick succession. Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) AI glasses have seen significant improvements in battery life and imaging capabilities, making them more suitable for everyday wear. Oakley Meta AI glasses are focused on sports scenarios, serving as both headphones and sports cameras, and they are integrated with sports equipment and software like Garmin and Strava. ▲ Top: Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation); Bottom: Oakley Meta And the Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses, which come with a display, are arguably the most powerful AI glasses in Meta's history. The combination of these glasses with the Neural Band wristband signals a bold attempt at new interaction methods, allowing users to input and control using subtle wrist muscle movements, eliminating the need to touch the device. ▲ Neural Band wristband scenario demonstration The starting price of Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) is $379 (about RMB 2,692.3), Oakley Meta starts at $499 (about RMB 3,544.7), and the Meta Ray-Ban Display + Neural Band combo starts at $799 (about RMB 5,675.8). However, compared to the cool new products and features, what stole the spotlight at this launch event was the constant failures of the new AI features: AI gave irrelevant answers, the Neural Band failed to respond, and various issues forced Zuckerberg to squeeze out an awkward yet polite smile, attributing the problems to the on-site Wi-Fi network. In addition to hardware, Meta also launched the newly upgraded Horizon engine to accelerate the creation of virtual worlds. From scanning physical spaces in a few minutes to quickly generating immersive virtual environments, Zuckerberg described Horizon as the “foundational infrastructure framework for the metaverse.” As content and partners expand, Meta is attempting to make the integration of virtual and real worlds truly tangible. 01. AI Glasses Take Off! Classic Ray-Ban Meta Major Update, But AI Features Fail Epically “The take-off of AI glasses is no surprise!” Before the official launch segment, Zuckerberg reiterated his confidence in the form of AI glasses, calling them the ideal carrier for personal superintelligence. AI glasses do not affect the user's sensory experience, can see what you see, hear what you hear, and communicate directly with you in natural language. Meta's goal in developing AI glasses is to create attractive glasses equipped with personal superintelligence and true holographic displays. Zuckerberg said the sales curve of AI glasses is similar to the hottest consumer electronics in history. Zuckerberg also shared Meta’s three principles in designing AI glasses: First, the glasses themselves must be attractive, comfortable, and lightweight; second, technology should give way to the experience itself, meaning it shouldn’t interfere with daily life; and finally, focus on superintelligence, enabling AI to solve the most critical problems in daily life. After talking about the concept, the real show began! As the world’s best-selling AI glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta has received a major upgrade. First, the battery life has directly doubled; a fully charged Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) can last up to 8 hours in daily use. It takes only 20 minutes to charge Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) glasses to 50%. The glasses also come with a charging case, which can provide an additional 48 hours of battery life. In terms of imaging, Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) comes with 3K ultra-high-definition video shooting, equipped with ultra-wide-angle HDR, and a frame rate of 60 fps; however, it’s unclear how UHD shooting will affect battery life. In addition to the already released real-time translation feature, Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) also gets a new “Conversation Focus” function, which can “turn up” the volume of your conversation partner in noisy environments for clearer face-to-face communication. Zuckerberg also showcased the improved Live AI feature, stating that with enhanced battery life, Meta AI is no longer a function users need to activate manually but will become an always-on service. However, this “always” is nuanced. Zuckerberg said they’re still tackling technical challenges, and currently it can only be used continuously for 1-2 hours. Zuckerberg made a remote call with a staff member to demonstrate how the Live AI feature could help in the kitchen. However, the Live AI only recognized the ingredients on the table and could not correctly answer how to process them after repeated questions from the staff. Both of them blamed the issue on the Wi-Fi network, and Zuckerberg joked that after years of tech development, Meta still stumbled at the critical moment due to Wi-Fi problems. Ray-Ban Meta (2nd generation) glasses start at $379 (about RMB 2,692.3), and come in multiple frame and color designs, plus two limited transparent editions. 02. 3,545 RMB! New Oakley Meta Smart Glasses, Can Auto-Record Sports, and Integrated With Garmin Next up, the new Oakley Meta smart glasses arrived, priced at $499 (about RMB 3,544.7), available as early as October 21. The new Oakley Meta smart glasses can last a full marathon on a single charge. Zuckerberg claimed the glasses still have battery left after two full marathons, though he didn’t specify whether this was based on the winner’s or closing time. The Oakley Meta smart glasses feature open-ear headphones, and Zuckerberg said they have Meta’s strongest speakers yet, with 6dB volume boost, ensuring clear call quality even in strong wind. The camera lens is centrally located, with a 122° ultra-wide angle, capable of 3K video recording, and comes with video stabilization. Meta also introduced slow-motion and time-lapse features for all smart glasses released today. For sports, Meta is partnering with Garmin, and the Oakley Meta has a built-in LED indicator to provide peripheral visual reminders to help users maintain target pace or heart rate zone. During exercise, users can use voice commands to activate Meta to start recording or check their workout data at any time. The new glasses also have an automatic recording feature; when paired with a Garmin smartwatch, the glasses automatically record videos at specific distances (like each marathon mile), and the system automatically compiles video clips after the workout. Meanwhile, integration with Strava allows users to overlay Strava data on the video, ideal for fitness bloggers. Zuckerberg claimed the new glasses have Meta’s best water resistance yet, with IP67 rating, so no fear of getting wet, even usable while surfing. Oakley Meta uses interchangeable Oakley Prism lenses, allowing users to freely switch lens colors according to lighting conditions or style preferences. 03. Display Glasses + Neural Band Technology Debut, Hands-in-Pocket Touch Control Possible The most anticipated new product at this launch is Meta’s first mass-produced, for-sale display-equipped AI glasses. Even before he took the stage, Zuckerberg demonstrated music playback and other features with the new glasses. Upon entering, he teased the audience, putting the glasses aside for nearly 20 minutes before revealing details. The official name is Meta Ray-Ban Display; Zuckerberg stated it’s not a prototype—users can buy it within weeks. Meta Ray-Ban Display has two main innovations. First, in display technology, the glasses feature a custom optical engine for full-color high-resolution holographic display, located at the side of your field of view, showing information only when needed, without obstructing vision. Zuckerberg said the display is sharp enough to watch videos or check messages, with brightness reaching 5000 nits. Meta Ray-Ban Display introduces a new interaction method: Meta Neural Band, an EMG (electromyography) wristband that converts muscle activity signals into commands. Zuckerberg demonstrated using Neural Band for tapping and pressing gestures, and even handwriting input. He used his finger as a “pen,” quickly writing a message on the table and sending it, without touching the glasses or a phone. Reportedly, Zuckerberg can already input 30 words per minute this way. Neural Band does not require special adaptation, as it’s the result of Meta’s research on over 200,000 participants over several years, and is suitable for almost everyone. For people with limited movement or missing fingers, wrist muscles can still provide control signals. The combination of display and Neural Band unlocks new use cases; for example, just a pinch of the hand shows SMS/MMS messages, and users can answer live video calls. However, this feature also failed during the live demonstration: Zuckerberg’s right hand pinched the air several times but couldn’t answer the call; the demo took more than a minute, making things quite awkward. Meta Ray-Ban Display also offers real-time subtitles and translation functions. Subtitles are transcribed from any ongoing speech in real time, helpful for the hearing-impaired. Instant translation results are displayed right in front of users’ eyes. However, these features are already common in domestic AI glasses, and whether Meta’s proprietary translation model can deliver a better experience remains to be seen. With mixed use, the Meta Ray-Ban Display offers about 6 hours of battery life; its foldable charging case provides up to 30 hours total. The price for Meta Ray-Ban Display plus Neural Band starts at $799 (about RMB 5,675.8). 04. Scan the Real World Into a Virtual World in Minutes, Metaverse Is Closer! In addition to glasses, Zuckerberg also unveiled the Meta Horizon engine for creating 3D virtual reality environments. Zuckerberg said the engine is fully optimized, born to realize the metaverse vision: faster loading, better graphics rendering, and more convenient creation flow. Users can easily create unlimited interconnected virtual spaces and experience ultra-realistic physics and interactions. Specifically, just scan a room with a Quest headset for a few minutes to transform it into an immersive virtual world. In the future, the engine will also seamlessly integrate Hyper State virtual scenes with the real world into a unified Horizon ecosystem. Meta showcased a virtual world rendered entirely by the Meta Horizon engine, including a remarkably realistic Eiffel Tower, representing a huge leap in visual display compared to before. In seconds, users can jump from home to a series of interconnected worlds. The new engine increases metaverse scene loading and rendering speed by more than four times, making world-switching as fast as web browsing, and making the metaverse experience even smoother. The Horizon engine also supports higher concurrency, allowing five times more users in a single virtual world than before; everyone can now watch concerts in the virtual world, with no worries about sold-out tickets. Zuckerberg said Horizon Studio and Meta Horizon engine together form the metaverse’s foundational infrastructure, and the above upgrades may be experienced on smart glasses and social platforms in the future. Additionally, Horizon TV has expanded with new games and video content. Zuckerberg excitedly announced that Disney+ is coming to Horizon TV, and Universal Pictures has also partnered with Meta. 05. Conclusion: Meta Connect Becomes the Smart Glasses Showroom, Zuckerberg Mentions LLM Zero Times After reading, does it feel like something is missing? Indeed, during the entire one-hour Connect conference, Zuckerberg didn’t mention the Llama model—not a single word. Since the April 5, 2025 release of Llama 4, Meta has not released any officially named minor versions, aside from experimental updates via the Llama API. This is not surprising, though; previously, headlines about Meta setting up a superintelligence department and poaching talent, as well as internal strife between veterans and newcomers, caused an uproar. Meta’s R&D is likely still in a transitional period between old and new. This year’s Meta Connect was a showcase for smart glasses, just as the previous leaks had predicted, launching new Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses, as well as Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses with a display. The three new products embody advancements and breakthroughs in the smart glasses industry, bringing practical and popular everyday AI glasses another step closer. However, all of Zuckerberg's on-stage AI function demos failed, exposing ongoing technical problems with stability and accuracy in real-world use—perhaps one reason Meta AI has been “shelved.” Source: Zhidx, original title: “Laugh Cry! This Meta Connect: ‘Jaw-dropping’”. 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