John Carmack Facebook Connect 2021 Keynote

UploadVR4 HN recommenders · 2021–2022
152K views · talk · dated · Uploaded 2021-10-28

John Carmack's keynote at Facebook Connect 2021, where he speaks candidly about VR, Quest, and Meta's metaverse plans. He pushes back on hype and discusses retention and latency.

Commenters praise it as clear, honest thinking from Carmack and recommend it to technical people interested in VR and the metaverse.

Watch on YouTube

8 comments from Hacker News

@RealityVoid2021 · in “Facebook Unceremoniously Kills Off 'Oculus' Brand”

The Index is great, but it will lose in the end because of 3 reasons: 1) much cheaper price 2) portability 3) seamless onboarding experience I love my index but there is no way that it can currently beat oculus because of these things. Also, Oculus is well aware of these features. At least Carmack is. The highlight of connect for me was the Carmack keynote. I suggest all techies watch it: [VIDEO]

Strongly recommendsView on HN
@hotwire2021 · in “John Carmack issues some words of warning for Meta and its metaverse plans”

Here's his actual keynote speech: [VIDEO] As always, John is a master of communication and clear thought.

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@shafyy2021 · in “The metaverse is already here, it's called the internet”

I know, right! I just love how Carmack delivered the line: "... But Mark Zuckerberg decided it's time to build the metaverse..." Edit: Here's Carmack's keynote: [VIDEO]

@bch2021 · in “Taking apart the 2010 Fisher Price re-released Music Box Record Player”

> and the VR/meta chapter won't help Tangential to this thread, I listened to Carmacks keynote[0] for the Facebook Connect event, and it’s very refreshing to hear him push back, in ways that just make sense , instead of towing some corporate line that’s part fantasy and snake oil. See his comments on “social metaverse” and “3D vs flat screens”. [0] [VIDEO]

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@allturtles2021 · in “Microsoft and the Metaverse”

Carmack said basically the same thing in his Connect 2021 keynote: [VIDEO] "There are no lapsed mobile users, essentially... but there are, right now, a whole lot of people that are lapsed VR users...."

@f0e4c2f72022 · in “Ask HN: Which VR Headset to Get?”

Looking some more I found this video. Sounds like he is quite heavily involved after all. Interesting video too. [VIDEO]

@FrostKiwi2022 · in “Carmack Unscripted”

I recommend watching last year's speech by Carmack. It gives a little perspective as to why this was targeted to be a virtual session. He is not a fan of how Meta pushes the Metaverse, "Money is flowing and enormous wheels in the company apparatus are turning" and he wants to salvage that financial energy to push technology in some meaningful way. (Pushing down audio latency on the Quest 2 was such a talking point). This shows what Meta's tech is capable of, mask off, no per-rendered CG advert and I think that's a good thing. Besides that, afaik he is largely detached from that project now and only does once a week consulting, with the main focus being his pursuit of AGI. Doesn't change of course how embarrassingly bad Meta's money invested vs results achieved are. edit: Fount the spot I referenced. [VIDEO] at 15:10 onward

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@FrostKiwi2022 · in “Carmack Unscripted”

hwers's comment lacks some context, but there is some truth to it. Consider Carmack's comment: [VIDEO] @33:50 onward "A closed platform doesn't deserve to be called a metaverse, or does it?" Making money in the Metaverse is a pillar of what makes a virtual world an actual world. (Ignoring of who does the money making for now) Scarcity is an integral part of it. Skins, models, rare items. In the virtual world it all scarcity is artificial by definition. Just like with second life and the linden dollar making it to real exchanges. Second life sold worlds as some kind of virtual realtor in the past, VRChat's users sell custom created skins and rigged models today and Meta wants to be the platform facilitating that tomorrow, but on a grand scale. I also highly applaud Meta's contribution to FOSS btw.