High Expectations at Connect 2025
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the company’s $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses at the Connect 2025 keynote in Silicon Valley. Marketed as a breakthrough in wearable “agentic AI,” the glasses promised to handle everyday tasks through digital assistants and neural wristband controls. However, live technical glitches marred the highly anticipated debut.
Onstage Demo Failures
The first failure occurred during a collaboration with cooking creator Jack Mancuso, where the glasses’ LiveAI feature was supposed to walk through a recipe step by step. Instead, the assistant skipped ahead and failed to answer simple prompts. Mancuso eventually attributed the malfunction to poor Wi-Fi. Later, a Neural Band demonstration showed Zuckerberg successfully sending a text but failing to connect a WhatsApp video call, leaving Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth to intervene.
Audience Reaction and Criticism
Tech Radar’s Lance Ulanoff noted that the AI “was clearly confused and jumping around,” highlighting the risks of live demos on crowded networks. He pointed out that competitors like Apple avoid such pitfalls by relying on pre-recorded keynote segments. While the audience responded with laughter during the missteps, the incidents overshadowed the intended showcase of Meta’s new technology.
Meta’s Vision Despite Setbacks
Despite the technical issues, Zuckerberg emphasized that the AI glasses mark a step toward Meta’s vision of wearable devices capable of anticipating user needs and reducing manual effort. Analysts acknowledged his persistence in running a live demonstration, though the glitches raised doubts about the product’s readiness. Zuckerberg maintained composure, joking about the situation, and reaffirmed Meta’s long-term commitment to AI-powered personal technology.