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Mark Zuckerberg has revealed an upcoming Meta product. During an interview with live streamer Roberto Nickson, the Meta founder and CEO spoke about what he envisions the future will look like for the company’s Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. According to Zuckerberg, that vision includes a new wearable technology. “I think we’ll start getting some consumer neural interfaces soon, and that’s gonna be pretty wild,” Zuckerberg told Nickson. “I’m not talking about something that jacks into your brain. I’m talking about something that you wear on your wrist that can basically read neural signals that your brain sends through your nerves to your hand to basically move it in different subtle ways that are maybe not perceptible to people around you, but we’re basically able to read those signals and be able to use that to control your glasses or other computing devices.” Along with emphasizing that the device wouldn’t be placed in the brain, Zuckerberg shared that the innovative idea is still in...
In the past year, Meta has undergone significant transformations, particularly in its approach to workforce management. Meta’s decisions regarding layoffs have not only attracted attention but have had a substantial impact on the company’s financial performance. Meta incurred staggering losses totaling $16 billion, primarily attributed to its Metaverse endeavors, mainly its Reality Labs division responsible for Oculus goggles. This marked a significant increase from the previous year’s loss of $13.7 billion, with Meta reporting a loss of $4.6 billion in the final quarter of 2023. Meta’s Stock Surge And Improved Margins Despite these substantial deficits, Meta’s stock surged by 12% following recent updates, largely due to the company’s improved margins. Meta’s revenue increased by 16%, while operating income and profits surged by 62% and 69%, respectively. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has assured investors of further losses in the future due to ongoing investments in augmented reality/...
Whether you’re using WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family across oceans and time zones, or finding all types of entertainment and inspiration on Reels, chances are Meta touches your life on a daily basis. Many of us have had a front row seat to the evolution of this brand, from the days when your Facebook page had to be linked to a college email address, to the futuristic capabilities of the new Meta Quest 3 VR headset. Behind the tech giant that has come to permeate our lives are diverse tech creatives who have built an amazing ecosystem that equally pulls from their similarities and their differences. We recently caught up with Cyriel Dikoume, an Engineering Manager at the company, to find out more about what it’s like to be part of the team responsible for the wide range of innovation that has happened at Meta in even just the last two years. “It’s kind of like our apps: connecting people is what we do best,” Dikoume told AfroTech. “The essence of connection and...
For decades, America has dealt with the horror of systems that plague the progression of certain groups. No matter the issue, there has been little shortage in the struggle to fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across a spectrum of sectors. Like any system riddled with backward thinking, the people impacted the most grow tired of the struggle and gain the strength to fight for what is owed to them. From slave revolts to the Civil Rights Movement to Women’s suffrage to the Stonewall Uprising — when people have had enough, they come together to demand change. Although the systemic oppressive nature of America has not been alleviated, the work of those who fight to dismantle said systems has caught the attention of certain politicians, policymakers, and companies. While some are just catching on, many have been side by side in the fight, creating space for equality to ring free. Although Meta doesn’t claim to get it all right, the tech giant is working to create a culture...
Meta is facing the infamous situation of “It be your own people.” Well, rather in this case your own technology. BBC reports that BlenderBot 3 — the company’s prototype chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to speak on most topics — said what it had to say about CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg. “He did a terrible job at testifying before congress. It makes me concerned about our country,” the chatbot said, according to the outlet. It added: “Our country is divided and he didn’t help at all. I’m concerned for us all.” The chatbot was referring to Zuckerberg’s multiple appearances since 2018 before Congress stemming from Facebook’s involvement with Cambridge Analytica during the 2016 election cycle. “Mark Zuckerberg ought to be looking at himself in the mirror today, and yet, rather than taking responsibility and showing leadership, Mr. Zuckerberg is going sailing,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chair of the subcommittee, during a hearing with Facebook whistleblower...
“Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.” Earlier this week, the actress had to make it clear that she is that girl . After a tweet comparing her career in Hollywood to Zendaya’s went viral, the 28-year-old hit send on a tweet of her own in response, as previously reported by Shadow and Act. “A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone. I’m the youngest talk show host ever. The first Black woman to star in her own show on Nickelodeon, & the youngest & first Black Cinderella on broadway. I’m an incomparable talent,” Palmer tweeted. A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone. I’m the youngest talk show host ever. The first Black woman to star in her own show on Nickelodeon, & the youngest & first Black Cinderella on broadway. I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer. — Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) July 24, 2022 Now, the star has added yet another hosting gig to her lengthy resume!
Facebook has officially changed the game for musicians. The leading social media network has announced its first-of-its-kind music licensing feature, which allows creatives to cash in when their music is used across the platform. According to a blog post, the Music Revenue Sharing feature will equip eligible creators with a 20 percent revenue share when their licensed music is used across videos that meet the criteria on the application. While the Meta company has not yet clarified the amount that the company will receive from the licensed catalogs, they did reveal that the “expansive licensed catalog” is filled with music from various artists. This function is currently available within the U.S. market, thanks to a program developed by Meta called Rights Manager. This video, audio, and image-matching software is designed to help creators maintain their rights , while also helping them to manage their content at scale. Furthermore, the feature was created with the help of the...
Jordan Peele’s “NOPE,” one of this summer’s biggest movies starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, is on its way to the big screen. Ahead of its theaters’ premiere on July 22, Monkeypaw Productions — founded by the director and producer — and Meta have collaborated to take viewers inside of the upcoming horror film.
Boosted by technology, Meta is highlighting Black creators and leaders to build a more equitable future for underrepresented communities. This is all made possible by the Metaverse Culture Series. As AfroTech previously told you, the initiative is a part of a year-long commitment to work directly with Black creators and leaders to build inclusivity in the tech space by ensuring their perspectives are present.
With the debate on filters being a harmful tool or not, Texas has enacted a change that establishes its stance on the matter. CBS 19 reports that the city’s Attorney General sued Meta — Instagram’s parent company — in February for its “misuse of their facial recognition technology.” On May 11, as a result, Texas fans of Instagram’s filters are no longer able to use a handful of its selection. While many use filters with no foul intent, it appears that they go against the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act — facial recognition laws which were emplaced to keep social media companies like Meta from tagging users without consent. According to the outlet, a similar move was made in Illinois based on its Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. “The technology we use to power augmented reality effects like avatars and filters is not facial recognition or any technology covered by the Texas and Illinois laws, and is not used to identify anyone,” the Communications team at...