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Meta CTO explains why the smart glasses demos failed at Meta Connect — and itwasn’t the Wi-Fi
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth described why demos of Meta's smart glasses failed during Meta Connect, revealing issues related to resource management and a newly discovered bug rather than Wi-Fi problems. The company showcased upgraded smart glasses, but live demos floundered during cooking and video call scenarios, underscoring challenges in their performance despite significant preparation.
Key points
- Meta presented three new pairs of smart glasses at Meta Connect.
- Live demos failed due to resource management mistakes and a new bug.
- An overload of Live AI requests was triggered by one question about a recipe, causing Meta's dev server to perform poorly.
- WhatsApp video call failure was due to a 'race condition' bug that prevented the display from showing the call at the right time.
- Bosworth reassured that the product works effectively despite the demo issues.
Why it matters
- Concerns over live demos reflect broader trends in AR/VR technology where user experience can significantly impact perception.
- The emergence of real-time processing and AI in wearable tech raises questions about infrastructure and support systems.
- Meta's challenges illustrate the critical need for rigorous testing in tech rollouts, especially in high-stakes environments like public showcases.
The demo failures for Meta's smart glasses highlight the importance of thorough preparation and robust technology infrastructure. Despite setbacks, Meta is confident in the product's capabilities, demonstrating a resilience in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.