In a bold display of ambition, Mark Zuckerberg’s live demo of Meta’s new AI-powered glasses at the recent Connect conference twice stumbled into technical glitches — yet, remarkably, this vulnerability worked in the company’s favor.
The risk of onstage errors underscored the launch of an audacious product, transforming a potential embarrassment into a testament to Meta’s confidence and openness. Far from derailing the event, the mishaps highlighted a daring approach that resonated with audiences and even won over skeptics.
The Stage Is Set: A Leaked Preview and Bold Unveiling
The Connect conference unfolded late into the night, showcasing Meta’s latest innovations in virtual and augmented reality. Leaks had already spilled the beans days earlier, hinting at the star of the show: a pair of AI-enhanced glasses.
The lineup featured Ray-Ban Display glasses, paired with an EMG wristband for gesture-based control, and a sportier Oakley Meta Vanguard model with a central camera and integrations for Garmin and Strava. The Ray-Bans stole the spotlight, promising a seamless blend of style and tech, while the Oakley version felt like a niche add-on for fitness enthusiasts.
Zuckerberg kicked off the presentation from a makeup trailer, captured by an onboard camera. As he slipped on the Ray-Ban Display glasses, the lens display sprang to life, cueing his entrance music. Striding onto the stage, he fist-bumped organizers and colleagues, the live feed from the glasses broadcasting to a global audience.
It was clear this wasn’t a polished video—this was real-time innovation in action. The glasses, equipped with a built-in screen, allowed Zuckerberg to navigate without voice commands or a smartphone, relying instead on the wristband to read muscle movements, mimicking an Apple TV remote controlled by subtle hand gestures.
A Shift in Naming: From AR to AI
The era of branding around AR, VR, MR, XR, and other “R” acronyms seems to have faded. Meta now positions these as AI glasses, aligning with a broader industry trend. Like Apple’s recent AirPods Pro reveal, the Ray-Ban Display offers real-time translation, displaying subtitles on the lens. But it goes further: even the base Ray-Ban model aims to provide context-aware advice based on camera input.
The first live demo, however, hit a snag. When a food creator asked for a step-by-step Korean steak sauce recipe, the AI jumped ahead, prompting awkward laughter as the presenter struggled to redirect it. The glitch was chalked up to Wi-Fi issues, a convenient scapegoat that drew sympathetic cheers from the crowd.
Undeterred, Zuckerberg polled the audience: slides or another live demo? The roar for “Live!” led him to showcase Meta’s messaging prowess.
With the wristband, he “wrote” messages on an imaginary surface, a nod to the lost art of penmanship that felt both nostalgic and futuristic. The demo flowed smoothly — until the call feature faltered. Attempting a WhatsApp call with CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Zuckerberg’s gestures failed to connect. After five missed attempts, Bosworth joined him onstage, and the segment fizzled out, forcing a pivot to the rest of the presentation.
From Flop to Triumph: A Bold Move Pays Off
Surprisingly, these technical hiccups didn’t spark widespread mockery or label the products as flops. Despite Meta’s and Zuckerberg’s polarizing reputation, the decision to showcase raw, unscripted demos was hailed as courageous. Media and social platforms buzzed with respect for the transparency, interpreting it as confidence in the product and faith in the team.
Even the staunchest skeptics couldn’t resist a nod of admiration. This stood in stark contrast to Google’s Glass debacle under Sergey Brin, where the tech’s prominence overshadowed its practicality. The Ray-Ban Display, by contrast, blends into everyday wear—subtle enough that onlookers wouldn’t guess the wearer is translating speech, taking calls, or typing with a wrist flick.
Also read:
- Jeremy Strong to Play Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network 2 as Jesse Eisenberg Steps Away
- Zuckerberg’s AI Manifesto: A Personal Superintelligence for All
- Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Acquires Stake in Leading Smart Glasses Maker
- Envision’s Ally Solos: AI-Powered Smart Glasses Revolutionizing Accessibility for the Blind
Pricing and Accessibility: A Calculated Play
The Ray-Ban Display comes with a $800 price tag, available initially in the U.S., with a gradual rollout to other markets in 2026. Compared to the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro or the $1,500 Google Glass (over $2,000 today with inflation), it’s a steal — especially with the wristband included.
This pricing positions it as an accessible entry into AI wearables, balancing innovation with market reach. Whether it can sustain the goodwill from this rocky debut remains to be seen, but for now, Zuckerberg’s gamble has turned a live demo disaster into a narrative of resilience and vision.
