Meta’s Smart Glasses Demo Falters Amid Self‑Inflicted DDoS and Display Glitch
Key Points
- Live‑AI demo overloaded Meta’s dev server, causing a self‑inflicted DDoS.
- Routing all venue devices to a single endpoint triggered the overload.
- A video‑call segment failed due to a race‑condition that put the display to sleep.
- CTO Andrew Bosworth confirmed both issues have been fixed.
- Journalists who tested the glasses praised their information‑display capabilities.
During Meta Connect 2025 the company’s smart‑glasses showcase ran into two unexpected problems. A live‑AI cooking demo overloaded the internal dev server after every device in the venue was routed to it, effectively “DDoS’ing” Meta’s own system. A separate video‑call segment suffered a race‑condition bug that put the display to sleep just as a call notification arrived, leaving the on‑stage presenter without visual cues. Both issues have been acknowledged by CTO Andrew Bosworth, who said the bugs are now fixed, and journalists who tested the glasses remain impressed with the product’s potential.
Demo Set‑backs at Meta Connect 2025
Meta’s much‑anticipated smart‑glasses presentation at Meta Connect 2025 highlighted both the promise and the growing pains of its new wearable technology. The event featured a live‑AI cooking demonstration where a chef attempted to use the glasses to receive step‑by‑step assistance. Shortly after the command to start Live AI was issued, every Ray‑Ban Meta device in the building attempted to connect to a development server that had been set up to isolate traffic. The unexpected volume of connections overwhelmed the server, a situation Bosworth later described as the company “DDoS’d ourselves.”
The overload forced the demo to be halted, and the event’s host stepped in to continue the presentation while attributing the glitch to Wi‑Fi issues. Bosworth clarified that the Wi‑Fi was not at fault; the problem lay in the routing configuration that sent all devices’ traffic to a single dev endpoint.
Video‑Call Glitch Explained
Later in the same showcase, a video‑call introduction for another segment suffered a separate technical fault. The display on the presenter’s glasses entered sleep mode at the exact moment a call notification was received. Bosworth labeled this a “never‑before‑seen bug in a new product” and explained that a race condition caused the display to miss the notification even after it was awakened.
He noted that the bug was unprecedented for the team and that it has since been resolved, stating “it’s fixed now.”
Positive Impressions Amid the Hiccups
Despite the on‑stage setbacks, Bosworth emphasized that the failures do not signal an abandonment of live demos. Journalists who have tried the glasses reported being impressed with the ease of accessing information at a glance and the potential for the device to evolve into a smartphone alternative. The overall sentiment from early reviewers remains optimistic about the glasses’ capabilities and future refinements.