Meta news covering Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, Reality Labs, metaverse developments, and Meta's social media platforms.
Meta launched the Business Agent, an AI-powered tool for automating customer support, sales, and marketing, at the Conversations 2026 event in London. The bot is now available globally on WhatsApp, with Instagram DMs support coming. Businesses can set it up in minutes, and it communicates in local languages. The service is initially free, with paid subscriptions planned.
Meta is betting on AI agents to unlock new revenue streams from WhatsApp. Mark Zuckerberg is expanding the company's push into AI agent technology, aiming to turn WhatsApp into a bigger business.
Meta resolved a vulnerability in its AI chatbot that let hackers hijack accounts, including Barack Obama's White House account, Sephora, and a U.S. Space Force official. The flaw bypassed two-factor authentication by linking accounts to new emails.
Meta is reducing its employee tracking program following public outcry. The program had monitored productivity and behavior, sparking controversy.
This commentary argues that Meta's handling of the VR fitness game Supernatural was wasteful and frustrating, as the company fought an antitrust battle to acquire it only to later spin it off. The author contends that Meta's decision to let the team become independent is a rare act of mercy, but criticizes the overall process as inefficient.
Gabriel Aul, who led Meta's metaverse products group since October 2025, quietly left the company, retiring in February and fully departing last month. Saxs Persson, a former Epic Games executive, has replaced him as head of Horizon. The departure follows layoffs in Reality Labs and a brief shutdown of Horizon Worlds support.
This commentary examines Meta's AI strategy under Alexandr Wang, arguing that CEO Mark Zuckerberg's bet on a young outsider has revitalized the company's AI efforts. It contends that Wang's leadership has produced credible results like Muse Spark, while navigating internal politics and skepticism, suggesting Meta is closing the gap with rivals.
Meta has several smart glasses models planned for 2026, including 'Modelo' possibly launching next month, 'Luna' and 'RBM2 Refresh' in fall, and 'Mojito VIP' in December. Two prototypes, 'Artemis' and 'SSG' with always-on cameras for ambient virtual assistant features, are being tested in fall 2026.
This commentary reflects on the disorienting juxtaposition of global wonders and local observations, arguing that even mundane phenomena resist full explanation. It suggests that the act of writing itself becomes a way to engage with the shimmering, elusive nature of reality.