A Meta division shaping VR/AR hardware and research
Meta's AI-powered glasses face renewed scrutiny as platforms roll out rules against harassing content captured on camera. News outlets report on incidents involving covert filming, the response from regulators and civil groups, and the potential for new safeguards.
Industry leaders warn that AI infrastructure investments have sparked a ferocious race among hyperscalers. Earnings calls show wide investor scepticism about when returns will materialise, even as compute demand remains strong.
Federal court action by 29 state attorneys general accuses Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to encourage endless scrolling and collecting data on minors. The case could force structural changes to the platforms and may carry penalties approaching hundreds of billions, dwarfing prior fines. Meta contends the allegations are flawed while facing losses in Reality Labs and heavy AI spending.
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.
Meta is developing a camera-free variant of its Ray-Ban AI glasses to address privacy concerns while preserving AI chat features. The move follows sustained criticism of camera-enabled glasses and regulatory scrutiny in Europe and Norway. The company is pushing audio and AI capabilities with safeguards like an LED recording indicator and anti-tampering features.
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.