Meta Connect 2025: How to watch and what to expect from Meta’s biggest AI & wearables showcase

Meta’s next-gen AI-powered smart glasses, developed with Ray-Ban and Oakley, are expected to debut at Connect 2025, featuring an onboard assistant, cameras, a heads-up display, and wristband gesture control via the leaked Hypernova model

Meta’s biggest annual event, Meta Connect 2025, officially kicks off today evening, and expectations are high for significant announcements around AI-powered smart glasses, augmented reality (AR), and the Metaverse. The event will be hosted in person at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, and streamed online via Meta’s official platforms, including Facebook, Meta’s developer site, and through Horizon on Quest headsets.

This year’s Connect is particularly notable, as it’s Meta’s first major public event since the launch of Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) — the company’s new AI research division led by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang. With increasing pressure to compete in the booming AI space, Meta appears to be shifting its focus toward AI-driven hardware and contextual computing experiences.

Spotlight on smart glasses and wearables

The star of the show is expected to be Meta’s next-generation AI-powered smart glasses, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley. These new models reportedly include an onboard AI assistant, cameras, microphones, and even a heads-up display embedded into the lens. A now-deleted video uploaded to Meta’s YouTube channel hinted at a model called Hypernova, controlled via a gesture-based wristband that was first revealed at last year’s Connect.

Meta has already seen success in this category, claiming to have sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Earlier this year, it launched a sportier model with Oakley, designed specifically for athletes. At this year’s Connect, the company is expected to unveil a new Oakley smart glasses model in the Spheara style, featuring a large single-lens design with a central camera, optimized for cyclists and runners.

VR and the metaverse take a backseat — for now

While Meta’s Quest VR headsets and the broader Metaverse have historically been central to Connect, 2025 may see a reduced focus on these themes. Although there’s no confirmation of a new Quest device launch this year, Meta is reportedly developing an ultralight VR headset for release in 2026. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is still expected to touch on Metaverse developments during the keynote, but the spotlight appears to be squarely on wearables and AI.

Thursday’s Developer Keynote will include a conversation between Michael Abrash, Chief Scientist of Reality Labs, and VP Richard Newcombe, who will explore how contextual AI could shape the future of smart glasses and everyday computing.

AI ambitions and Meta Superintelligence Labs

Connect 2025 is also likely to serve as a platform for Meta to showcase progress from Meta Superintelligence Labs, which is tasked with building cutting-edge AI systems. While specifics remain under wraps, industry watchers anticipate updates on MSL’s roadmap and perhaps new tools for developers working on AI-integrated wearables.

Earlier this year, Meta held its first LlamaCon developer event to promote its Llama language models and invested heavily in AI talent. With AI now embedded in everything from smart glasses to chat assistants, we may also see refinements to Meta’s standalone AI app, which currently straddles the line between wearable control and chatbot interface.

How to watch Meta Connect 2025:

·         When: September 17, 5 PM PT (Keynote with Mark Zuckerberg)

·         Where: Livestream via Meta’s website, Facebook, or Horizon (Meta Quest)

·         Developer Sessions: Continue on September 18 starting at 10 AM PT

As Meta races to lead the next wave of AI-integrated consumer technology, Connect 2025 may mark a pivotal moment in redefining how we interact with digital content — not just through screens, but through what we wear.