Italian-owned luxury eyewear, founded 1936 by Bausch & Lomb; now Luxottica's flagship brand.
A travel feature on Yerevan, Armenia, exploring Republic Square, the Dancing Fountains show, and the city’s heritage from Tamanian’s design to recent tourism growth linked to direct flights from London.
The Guardian and other outlets report increasing concern over Meta’s Ray‑Ban smartglasses. Pubs, theatres and schools ban or restrict wearables to protect privacy as regulators weigh rules. While advocates highlight accessibility benefits, critics warn surreptitious filming and harassment threaten safety in public spaces.
Meta has rolled out updates to its AR glasses to deter covert filming, adding a stronger capture LED safeguard and hardware-based privacy measures. The moves come as regulators in the EU probe the glasses and venues consider bans; the company reports a small share of devices have been tampered with and vows ongoing updates.
Princess Diana’s black Christina Stambolian evening dress, worn in 1994 as a public response to Charles’s affair, is returning to Sotheby’s for auction with a conservative estimate around $200,000. The item will tour displays in London, Hong Kong, Geneva and New York ahead of a December sale, with portions of proceeds benefiting NHS Lothian Charity.
Polish developer Pawel Szydlowski has launched Zuckoff, an app that detects Bluetooth signatures from nearby smart glasses and estimates distance. It has drawn 5,000 users since its Apple App Store debut, as Meta faces backlash over its “perv glasses.” Regulators are contacting the creator while privacy advocates warn of surveillance risks.
Meta is rolling out an audio-focused variant of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, aiming to calm privacy concerns while preserving AI features. The move follows backlash to camera-equipped models and signals a broader shift toward user consent and non-visual interfaces.
Meta has introduced Muse-enabled AI experiences across its glasses ecosystem, including AI-powered assistants and new hardware like the Meta VR Glasses and Muse Charm. The move expands Muse integration to AI glasses and audio-only variants, with partnerships and plans to ship hardware by next year’s holiday season.
Meta’s Muse AI agent has overtaken ChatGPT on free app charts, signaling a shift toward personal AI assistants integrated with hardware. Meta is expanding Muse across smart glasses and a new Muse Charm device, while rivals forecast OpenAI’s response as publishers weigh hardware-backed AI ecosystems.
Dutch retailers have paused Meta glasses amid privacy concerns; the government is reviewing regulation while Dutch Data Protection Authority flags privacy risks and investigations continue. Meta defends features like indicator lights and anti-tampering.
Meta’s Muse AI is being pushed through hardware and consumer-focused tools, signaling a shift from enterprise to daily, hands-free AI use. The company unveils Muse Charm and integrates Muse into glasses, aiming to embed its assistant in daily routines as investor enthusiasm grows.
California Gov. Newsom has declined to sign SB 1130, a bill regulating smart glasses and other wearables. He says the definition is too broad and that existing privacy laws cover the issue. The measure would have imposed penalties on violators and fines on noncompliant manufacturers, aiming to clarify recording visibility in public spaces.
Oil markets are adjusting amid renewed attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and coordinated fuel releases by the G7 and IEA. While some shipments resume, the risk to global supply remains elevated as tensions persist and sanctions pressure grows.
Norway has proposed a temporary ban on camera-enabled smart glasses in public spaces to protect privacy, with a bill expected to reach parliament soon. The policy would apply to places like parks, gyms and schools, while allowing private use. An expert group will assess how to regulate and where exceptions might exist.
Meta has told investors Muse, its AI personal assistant, is unprofitable now due to compute intensity but will become highly profitable as efficiency improves. The company plans to monetize Muse through transaction fees as it scales, with expectations of profitability next year while continuing to push Reality Labs losses toward reduction.
Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio has proposed buying out his Delfin Sarl co-owners to consolidate control of the EssilorLuxottica empire, backed by an undisclosed international institution. The move aims to block a rival bid from Michal Strnad and stabilize governance after a slide in stock value. Public disclosures and interviews outline the bold plan and its financial scaffolding as the family feud intensifies.