Meta is reportedly setting up a brand-new AI research lab dedicated to pursuing superintelligence. As part of a broader shakeup, Mark Zuckerberg has tapped Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and is in talks to invest billions into his startup, while dangling seven- to nine-figure pay packages to poach researchers from OpenAI and Google.
Meta just announced its Ray-Ban smart glasses will go on sale in India on May 19 starting at ₹29,990 (around $353). The multimodal Meta AI features live translation and hands-free assistance, though local Indian languages aren't supported yet. With 2 million units sold globally since 2023, Meta is testing whether its flagship hardware can win over one of the world's biggest tech markets.
Mark Zuckerberg just revealed plans to bring a subscription tier and product ads to the standalone Meta AI app, targeting power users who want more compute. Meta also raised its AI spending outlook to as much as $72 billion this year. Why it matters: Meta wants a direct rival to ChatGPT and Copilot, but monetization will take a back seat to user growth for at least another year.
Meta just updated its privacy policy for Ray-Ban smart glasses, quietly removing the toggle that allowed users to stop voice recordings from being stored in the cloud. Audio logs and transcripts will now be kept for up to a year to train Meta AI models. While you can still delete recordings manually in settings, you can no longer opt out entirely.
Meta just launched a standalone Meta AI app powered by Llama 4, putting hands-free voice conversations front and center. The app absorbs the Ray-Ban Meta companion controls, includes a native full-duplex voice demo, and taps into your Facebook and Instagram activity for personalized answers. It basically elevates Meta AI from an in-chat bot into a full-blown daily companion.
Meta just rolled out live translation to all Ray-Ban smart glasses users across supported markets. The feature enables real-time two-way translation between English, French, Italian, and Spanish—and by downloading language packs in advance, it works completely offline without Wi-Fi or cellular data. It turns the smart frames into a genuinely practical travel translator.
Meta just signed a multimillion-dollar, multi-year deal with UFC to become its official fan technology and wearable partner. The integration spans Meta AI, smart glasses, Quest headsets, and exclusive Threads content, with plans to build an AI-powered fighter ranking system. Why it matters: Meta gets massive mainstream sports visibility for its next-gen hardware and AI directly inside the Octagon.
Meta is testing a "Write with Meta AI" button on Instagram that scans photos to draft three ready-made comment suggestions. Users can tap a pencil icon in the comment bar to pick or refresh replies. While Meta wants to boost interactions, users already worry the tool will replace authentic friend check-ins with low-effort AI slop.
Meta just announced the rollout of Meta AI across Europe, bringing conversational AI in six European languages to WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger for free. Users can summon the assistant in group chats using @MetaAI or simply tap the new blue circle icon to search and brainstorm.
Meta is reportedly planning to launch a dedicated Meta AI mobile app during the second quarter, taking direct aim at OpenAI's ChatGPT. The company also intends to test a paid subscription tier. While Meta AI already reaches hundreds of millions inside Facebook and WhatsApp, a standalone app could unlock deeper personalization and hardware sync.
Meta just rolled out firmware v11 for Ray-Ban Meta glasses to early access users in the US and Canada, adding real-time AI video and continuous voice chat. Wearers can now ask questions about whatever is in front of them without repeating wake words, alongside live translation for Spanish, French, and Italian. Why it matters: It beats Google to getting multimodal live vision onto consumers' faces.
Meta just announced major upgrades to Messenger Calling, rolling out AI-generated backgrounds powered by Meta AI alongside HD video and voice isolation. Users can also leave audio or video messages when friends miss a call, turning the chat app into a much more capable communication hub.
Meta just started rolling out its Meta AI assistant to Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in France, Italy, and Spain, adding support for French, Italian, and Spanish. But European users won't get the multimodal camera-based features available in the US due to strict EU AI and GDPR compliance hurdles.
Meta is reportedly developing its own AI-powered search engine to power conversational news and web summaries inside Meta AI. A dedicated team has spent eight months building the underlying web index to slash the company's reliance on Google and Microsoft Bing. Why it matters: Owning the search layer means Meta can keep its massive user base inside its own ecosystem without paying rivals for web access.
Meta just signed a multi-year content licensing deal with Reuters to power news queries in Meta AI. Rolling out to U.S. users, the chatbot will cite Reuters articles and link back to original stories when answering current events. Financial terms remain undisclosed, and it is unclear if the data will be used to train Llama.
Meta is gearing up for its annual Connect conference, where Mark Zuckerberg is expected to unpack major Meta AI updates across apps like WhatsApp alongside new Llama models. Hardware leaks point to a cheaper Quest 3S headset, fresh Ray-Ban updates, and a glimpse of the Orion AR glasses. Meta is tying its AI chatbot push directly into mainstream wearable hardware.
Meta is reportedly negotiating multi-million-dollar deals with actors like Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key to license their voices for its Meta AI assistant. The company aims to wrap up deals ahead of its September Connect event, bringing the voices to Instagram and Ray-Ban smart glasses. Why it matters: Meta is betting that authentic star voices will make hardware like smart glasses feel less like a gadget and more like an engaging companion.
Meta just shut down its celebrity lookalike AI chatbots after spending millions on likeness rights just last September. Instead of handcrafted personas based on stars like Dwyane Wade and Paris Hilton, the company is pivoting to AI Studio, letting creators build their own bot personas.
Meta just rolled out a major upgrade to Meta AI, adding preview access to its flagship Llama 3.1 405B model alongside a new "Imagine me" stylized selfie feature. Users can now generate custom scenes starring themselves, though the 405B model requires manual switching and has weekly limits.
Meta is cooking up a new feature in WhatsApp that turns your selfies into custom AI stickers. Users upload a few reference photos to Meta AI and can then trigger scenes by typing "@Meta AI imagine me" in any chat—dropping themselves into outer space or a forest. It's currently in beta testing on Android, with full control to delete your reference images at any time.
