Meta CTO Attributes Smart Glasses Demo Failures to Resource Overload, Not Wi‑Fi
Key Points
- Meta unveiled three new smart‑glass models at Meta Connect.
- Live demos with a cooking influencer and a WhatsApp call failed.
- Bosworth clarified the issues were due to a massive device‑traffic surge, not Wi‑Fi.
- The traffic overload caused a self‑inflicted DDoS on a development server.
- A display‑sleep bug created a race condition during the WhatsApp call.
- Both issues have been identified and fixed.
- Bosworth affirmed the products are functional despite the demo glitches.
At Meta Connect in San Francisco, three new smart‑glass models were unveiled, but live demonstrations stumbled. Cooking influencer Jack Mancuso’s query to a Ray‑Ban Meta device went unanswered, and a WhatsApp video call between CTO Andrew Bosworth and CEO Mark Zuckerberg failed. Bosworth later clarified on Instagram that the glitches stemmed from a mismanaged surge of device traffic that overwhelmed a development server and a display‑sleep bug, not the venue’s Wi‑Fi. He emphasized that the products remain functional despite the demo hiccups.
Meta Connect Showcases New Smart‑Glass Lineup
During the Meta Connect developer conference in San Francisco, Meta introduced three new smart‑glass offerings: an upgraded version of its existing Ray‑Ban Meta, a new Meta Ray‑Ban Display paired with a wristband controller, and the sports‑focused Oakley Meta Vanguard.
Live Demonstrations Encounter Problems
Several live demos failed to work as intended. Cooking content creator Jack Mancuso asked his Ray‑Ban Meta glasses for the first step of a sauce recipe. After repeating the question, the glasses did not respond and the AI jumped ahead in the recipe, forcing the demo to stop. Mancuso suggested the issue might be Wi‑Fi‑related.
In another instance, the glasses could not pick up a live WhatsApp video call between Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, leading Zuckerberg to abandon the attempt.
Bosworth’s Explanation on Instagram
Following the event, Bosworth addressed the failures on Instagram, explaining that the problems were not caused by Wi‑Fi. He said that when the chef said, “Hey, Meta, start Live AI,” the command inadvertently activated every Ray‑Ban Meta device in the building. The sheer number of devices generated a flood of traffic that had not been present during rehearsals.
Additionally, Meta had routed the Live AI traffic to a development server intended to isolate the demo. The unexpected volume of requests overwhelmed that server, effectively “DDoS‑ing” themselves.
The WhatsApp call issue stemmed from a different bug: the glasses’ display entered sleep mode at the exact moment the call arrived. This created a “race condition” where the system failed to display the incoming call notification. Bosworth noted that the bug was new, has since been fixed, and was an unfortunate moment for it to appear.
Outlook on the Product
Despite the setbacks, Bosworth expressed confidence in the underlying technology, stating that the products work and have “the goods.” He framed the incidents as demo failures rather than product failures, emphasizing that the devices remain viable for future use.