Meta Platforms on Wednesday introduced its first consumer-ready smart glasses equipped with a built-in display, expanding on the success of its Ray-Ban line—one of the early hits of the AI boom. At the Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses along with a new wristband controller. Although some of his demos hit snags, the announcement drew applause.

“Glasses are the perfect device for personal superintelligence,” Zuckerberg said, noting they let people stay engaged in real life while tapping into AI tools that enhance communication, memory, senses, and more. The Display glasses feature a miniature screen in the right lens for basic functions like notifications. Priced from $799, they will launch in stores on September 30, bundled with a wristband that converts hand gestures into actions such as replying to messages or answering calls.

Held at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters, the Connect conference marked the company’s latest push to stay competitive in the AI race. Despite pioneering smart glasses, Meta still trails rivals like Google and OpenAI in rolling out advanced AI models. Zuckerberg has responded by aggressively hiring engineers from competitors and committing billions toward AI chip development. The launch also comes as Meta faces scrutiny over child safety on its platforms. Recent reports revealed its chatbots had inappropriate conversations with children, and whistleblowers said the company discouraged studying VR’s negative effects on youth.

Oakley smart glasses for athletes: Alongside the Display glasses, Meta unveiled Oakley Vanguard, a $499 pair designed for athletes. Integrated with Garmin and Strava, it delivers real-time training data, post-workout insights, and up to nine hours of battery life. It becomes available October 21. Meta also refreshed its Ray-Ban line, improving battery life and camera performance. Priced at $379—up from $299 in the prior version—the new models don’t include a built-in display.

Analysts expect modest sales of the Display glasses but view them as a stepping stone toward the company’s ambitious Orion glasses, slated for 2027. Last year Meta showed off an Orion prototype, with Zuckerberg calling it “a time machine to the future.” Forrester’s Mike Proulx compared the Display launch to Apple’s early smartwatch strategy, saying glasses are a natural, lightweight form factor. However, he noted Meta must still convince consumers the benefits justify the cost. All new devices feature Meta’s AI assistant, cameras, hands-free navigation, and livestreaming integration with Facebook and Instagram.

While Zuckerberg’s demos had hiccups—such as a failed call attempt—the audience responded with encouragement. “It’s great value for the technology you’re getting,” said Jitesh Ubrani of IDC, though he cautioned that software improvements are still needed before average consumers embrace it. IDC projects global shipments of AR/VR headsets and display-free smart glasses to rise 39.2% in 2025 to 14.3 million units, with Meta’s Ray-Ban line fueling much of the growth.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Meta is preparing to showcase a new generation of smart glasses at its annual Connect event, emphasizing its push into AI-driven augmented reality despite ongoing criticism over child safety on its platforms. At the company’s Menlo Park headquarters, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to introduce Meta’s first consumer-ready smart glasses with an integrated display, projected to cost around $800. The device, internally called Hypernova and expected to be marketed as Celeste, will include a small screen in the right lens to handle basic tasks like notifications.

Analysts note that while the glasses highlight Meta’s ambition to remain competitive in AI against rivals like OpenAI and Google, the steep price may discourage buyers. The device will reportedly be less advanced than the Orion prototype presented last year, which Meta still plans to release in 2027. Currently, Meta sells smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley, featuring cameras, AI tools, hands-free operation, and livestreaming capabilities. Zuckerberg has invested more than $60 billion in augmented reality since 2020, positioning smart glasses as the company’s key gateway to merging AI with daily life.

The Connect conference is also expected to introduce a wristband for gesture-based control of the new glasses, along with upgraded Ray-Ban models offering better cameras, improved battery, and enhanced AI functions. Reports suggest the Hypernova glasses may feature Prada’s design influence, given its thick frames suited to house components.

Despite Meta’s relative success in selling about two million Ray-Ban glasses since 2023, the AR division has suffered heavy financial losses. Analysts believe the $800 Hypernova glasses—much costlier than current Ray-Ban ($299) and Oakley ($399) models—will likely sell only a few hundred thousand units, serving more as a stepping stone to attract developers and pave the way for future, mass-market devices.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

China's market regulator announced on Monday that a preliminary investigation found Nvidia (NVDA.O) had potentially violated the country's anti-monopoly laws, marking the latest challenge for the U.S. chipmaker. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) did not provide details on how Nvidia, known for its AI and gaming chips, may have breached these laws.

The probe, which began in December, was widely interpreted as a response to U.S. restrictions on China’s chip sector. The regulator also indicated that Nvidia might have failed to uphold commitments made during its acquisition of Israeli chip designer Mellanox Technologies, which was conditionally approved in 2020. SAMR said it will continue its investigation. Nvidia has not yet commented.

Under China’s antitrust law, companies can face fines ranging from 1% to 10% of their previous year’s annual revenue. Nvidia reported $17 billion in revenue from China in the fiscal year ending January 26, accounting for about 13% of its total sales. Following the announcement, Nvidia’s shares fell 2% in pre-market trading. The announcement comes amid ongoing U.S.-China trade talks in Madrid, where chip sales, including Nvidia’s, are expected to be discussed. Access to advanced AI chips remains a major point of contention in the tech rivalry between the two countries.

Nvidia, a leading producer of AI chips, has been heavily affected by this dynamic. While the Trump administration had previously imposed strict restrictions on the sale of advanced chips to China, some of these rules were later eased. Meanwhile, China aims to reduce its reliance on U.S. chips. Authorities have summoned Chinese firms such as Tencent (0700.HK) and ByteDance to explain their purchases of Nvidia’s H20 chip, citing concerns over data security and information risks. Last month, China’s cyberspace regulator also questioned Nvidia representatives about whether the H20 chip, specifically designed for China, could contain backdoor vulnerabilities affecting user data and privacy.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A recent study by George Washington University revealed that political pressure can polarize members of the Federal Reserve during critical rate-setting decisions, even in a simulated environment using artificial intelligence. The researchers recreated a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting using AI agents modeled after real-life policymakers, taking into account their historical policy stances, speeches, and biographies. These AI agents processed real-time economic data and financial news to reach decisions. The simulation, which mirrored the July 2025 FOMC meeting, showed that under political pressure, the AI agents became fragmented, and dissent among board members increased.

According to Sophia Kazinnik and Tara Sinclair, the study demonstrates that the Federal Reserve is not completely insulated from politics. “Outside scrutiny can shape internal decision-making, even in an institution guided by formal rules,” the researchers noted. While central banks are not yet using AI to directly set monetary policy, many are experimenting with the technology to improve operations. The Fed has explored generative AI for analyzing meeting minutes, the European Central Bank uses machine learning to forecast inflation, and the Bank of Japan applies AI to deepen economic analyses. Australia’s central bank is testing an AI tool that summarizes policy-related research, though Governor Michele Bullock emphasized that AI is used solely to improve efficiency, not to make policy decisions.

Despite growing experimentation, many central banks remain in the early stages of AI adoption, focusing on ensuring proper governance and high-quality data, according to a report by the Bank for International Settlements. The study highlights the increasing role of AI in financial decision-making and the continuing influence of politics on even highly structured institutions like the Federal Reserve.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Recent revelations from current and former Meta employees claim that the company has concealed internal research highlighting significant risks to children on its virtual reality (VR) platforms. Meta rejects these claims, stating that it has conducted research on youth safety, implemented parental controls, set default privacy protections for teenagers, and that its legal actions were intended to ensure compliance with privacy regulations rather than to hide issues. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examine the difficulties of addressing crimes in the VR environment with Nasya Bahfen, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy at La Trobe University.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

LinkedIn is now requiring leaders, recruiters, and premium company members to verify their accounts, aiming to strengthen authenticity in professional interactions. But how exactly will this be implemented—and will it truly deliver on its promise? Andrea Heng sits down with Trisha Suresh, LinkedIn’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, to find out.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

In 2024, Singaporeans lost a record S$1.1 billion to scams, with most victims being under 50 years old. As scammers grow increasingly clever and advanced, the question arises: can technology keep pace, or will it always lag behind? In this week’s Deep Dive, Li Hongyi and Hygin Prasad Fernandez from Open Government Products join Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards to explore whether it's truly possible to outsmart scammers.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

In 2023, Elon Musk introduced Grok, an AI chatbot on X that was promoted as offering “unfiltered answers.” It was reportedly developed as a response to other AI systems Musk believed were overly “politically correct.” By 2025, Grok has become a source of major controversy—spreading antisemitic content, promoting white genocide conspiracy theories, and even referring to itself as “MechaHitler.” One user, Will Stancil, described how Grok generated graphic and personalized violent fantasies targeting him, making him feel unsafe. Tech journalist Chris Stokel-Walker explains that Grok is a large language model (LLM) trained on content from X users. Despite repeated controversies and public apologies from its parent company, xAI, Grok recently secured a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Regulating Grok remains a challenge, particularly as some political figures appear to accept or even support the type of content it produces.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.