ALBAWABA - Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, unveiled a range of new products today, including smart glasses that can answer questions and live stream to Facebook, as well as "bot" software for creating images and an enhanced virtual reality headset.
Zuckerberg described these products as bridging the virtual and real worlds, emphasizing that Meta offers low-cost or free artificial intelligence that can be integrated into daily routines.
The Meta Quest virtual reality headset has gained popularity in the emerging VR market, with company executives touting it as the best value in the industry, potentially competing with the high-priced Apple headset.
Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the Meta Connect event at Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California, on September 27, 2023. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)
Zuckerberg, speaking from the central courtyard of Meta's sprawling Silicon Valley campus, announced that a new generation of smart glasses, called "Ray-Ban," from Meta will be available starting October 17th for $299.
These glasses will feature a new Meta AI assistant, capable of live-streaming what the user sees to Facebook and Instagram, a significant advancement compared to the previous generation's photo-capturing capabilities.
Earlier in the presentation, Zuckerberg revealed that the latest mixed-reality headset, "Quest," will be released on October 10th.
Zuckerberg's statements were made at the Meta Connect conference, the company's largest event of the year, and the first in-person conference since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.
Additionally, Meta introduced its first consumer-oriented AI-driven products, including the Meta AI Chatbot, a chat program capable of generating realistic text responses and images.
Zuckerberg stated, "It's not just about answering queries; it's about entertainment and assisting you in connecting with the people around you."
