Meta kicks off Connect 2026 with AI and smart glasses in focus
Meta is holding its annual Connect product event in Menlo Park, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg's keynote expected to cover AI and smart glasses developments. The event comes as the company faces ongoing privacy criticism over its glasses' built-in camera.
Meta is hosting its annual September product showcase, Connect 2026, in Menlo Park, California, with reporters from The Verge covering the event live from the venue.
According to Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg's keynote will focus on how the company is "building a future for everyone," a theme he previously explored at length in a recent essay covering artificial intelligence, smart glasses, and related topics. Attendees can expect further details on these fronts, including possible updates on Meta's recently launched Muse AI agent and new smart glasses hardware.
Privacy concerns loom over glasses news
Whatever the company shares about its smart glasses lineup is likely to draw particular attention. Meta has faced a wave of criticism over privacy and harassment concerns tied to the built-in camera on its glasses, a controversy that has led some to nickname the devices "pervert glasses." The company has already responded with privacy-related fixes and a new marketing push aimed at reshaping public perception, but additional announcements on this front are possible during the Connect presentation.
The keynote is scheduled to begin at 7PM ET (4PM PT). The Verge is providing live coverage of the event as it unfolds, with further reporting expected to follow on any announcements made regarding Meta's AI tools and hardware plans.
