Tags: Reality Labs

Meta announced the acquisition of Limitless, the AI‑focused hardware startup formerly known as Rewind. The deal will see Limitless cease sales of its AI‑powered pendant and transition existing users to Meta’s Unlimited Plan while maintaining support for a year. Limitless, founded by Brett Bejcek and former Optimizely co‑founder Dan Siroker, pivoted to wearable AI devices last year with its $99 pendant. Meta says the addition will help accelerate its work on AI‑enabled wearables, though details on future product integration remain limited. Read more

Meta announced a series of temporary retail locations, branded as Meta Labs, where shoppers can physically try the company's new Ray‑Ban Display smart glasses and the Meta Neural Band controller. The pop‑up labs will open in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and a rebranded Meta Store in Burlingame, offering in‑person demos, fittings, and the chance to purchase the $799 glasses. Meta reported strong demand for hands‑on experiences, with many appointment slots already filled, and is also exploring vending‑machine sales as an additional distribution channel. Read more

Meta introduced its new Ray‑Ban Display smart glasses, positioning them as a replacement for smartphones. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that the glasses preserve human presence lost to phone screens. The device combines cameras, speakers, microphones and an on‑board AI assistant, while an accompanying Neural Band uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to let users write messages without speaking. Zuckerberg demonstrated a texting speed of about 30 words per minute. The launch highlights Reality Labs' ongoing investment in sEMG research and underscores Meta’s ambition to compete with Apple and Google in the wearable market. Read more

Meta Connect 2025 kicked off with a keynote from CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the company’s Menlo Park headquarters. The event showcased the latest AI‑powered smart glasses developed with Ray‑Ban and Oakley, while hinting at additional surprises across the Reality Labs portfolio. Executives discussed the future of contextual AI in wearables, upcoming product releases, and the company’s broader ambitions in the Metaverse and artificial intelligence. The conference schedule featured a developer keynote and a technical conversation between senior Reality Labs leaders, offering a comprehensive look at Meta’s next wave of hardware and software innovations. Read more

Meta is preparing to release a neural wristband that reads muscle impulses to control its upcoming augmented‑reality glasses. Tested on the company’s Project Orion prototype, the EMG band enables gestures such as pinches, taps and thumb swipes without relying on cameras. The accessory is expected to accompany a new display‑enabled glasses platform, code‑named Hypernova, at the Meta Connect event. While the band may cost at least $800 and could be bundled with a smartwatch, Meta executives say it may become less essential for display‑free glasses like the Ray‑Bans. The move positions Meta against rivals such as Apple, Google and Samsung, all pursuing their own gesture‑based wearables. Read more

Four current and former Meta employees have come forward, alleging that the company has limited internal research on the potential harms of its virtual reality products for children and teens. They say Meta’s legal team reviewed and sometimes blocked studies after earlier disclosures by whistleblower Frances Haugen. Meta disputes the claim, noting it has approved many Reality Labs studies and introduced parental controls. The allegations will be discussed at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hidden harms. In a related development, the former head of security at WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit accusing the platform of ignoring privacy and security concerns. Read more