On Wednesday evening, Mark Zuckerberg delivered a keynote at Meta Connect, showcasing a live demonstration using new smart glasses equipped with a screen, reminiscent of an event held by Google in 2012. During that event, Sergey Brin introduced Google Glass through a dramatic live skydiving demo that captured the audience’s attention.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable shift in how tech companies present product launches. Apple, for instance, transitioned to polished pre-recorded presentations, which some argue have reduced the excitement typically associated with live demos that can include unexpected failures. Live demonstrations provide a sense of authenticity, as they carry the risk of failure, which can reinforce credibility when they succeed.
At Meta Connect, Zuckerberg attempted to recapture some of the spontaneity seen in prior tech presentations, particularly given the competitive landscape with companies like Apple and Google. However, many of his demos did not go as planned. For instance, during an attempt to connect via video call using the glasses, multiple failures occurred, despite the technology being established and available previously.
Another demonstration involved a chef using the glasses to create a recipe. However, the assistant repeatedly stumbled over basic instructions, leading to further confusion. This prompted Zuckerberg and his team to attribute the failures to Wi-Fi issues, which was criticized as an unconvincing rationale by observers.
While the failed demonstrations did not necessarily reflect the overall capability of Meta’s products, they raised questions about preparedness for live presentations. The historical context of Steve Jobs managing a live demo failure effectively highlights the need for thorough planning and readiness for unexpected situations during high-stakes product showcases. There remains a hope that live demos could be revitalized, as they often illustrate the genuine nature of emerging technologies.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/report/781673/meta-demo-fail-connect-2025-mark-zuckerberg-google-glass-steve-jobs-wi-fi