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Meta’s AI for Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Can Identify Objects and Translate Languages

Meta’s AI for Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Can Identify Objects and Translate Languages

With the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, Meta is now allowing users to test out its most eye-catching AI functions, albeit initially through an early access test. With the announcement today, Meta will start introducing out its multimodal artificial intelligence functions, which will notify you about what Meta’s AI assistant is able to observe and hear using the glasses’ cameras and microphones.

In an Instagram video, Mark Zuckerberg showcased the change by asking the glasses to choose trousers that go with the garment he was carrying.

In response, it described the shirt and provided a few outfit ideas that might go well with it. He also requested that the artificial intelligence helper in the glasses interpret text and display a few picture captions.

Multimodal AI

In a September Decoder interview, Zuckerberg disclosed the multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) characteristics of Ray-Ban spectacles similar to those of Alex Heath of The Verge. According to Zuckerberg, users would speak with the Meta AI assistant during the day about various questions, implying that it would respond to inquiries about the wearers’ whereabouts or the items they are currently looking at.

Meta’s AI for Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Can Identify Objects and Translate Languages

Image Source: isp.page

Additionally, in a video from the chief technological officer Andrew Bosworth, an artificial intelligence helper correctly identified a lit-up wall mural in the design of California. He went over some of the other functions, that involve requesting the assistant to translate and summarise text that you’ve captured or requesting it for assistance to caption photographs. These are all very standard artificial intelligence (AI) features found in other devices from Google and Microsoft.

In the United States, the evaluation period will only be available to a tiny percentage of individuals who opt in, according to Bosworth. Here are the instructions for making an opt-in.

Meta In September, CTO Andrew Bosworth informed me that although the glasses require a voice command to turn on and “see” to preserve battery life,

Eventually, they'll have sensors that are low power enough that they're able to detect an event that triggers an awareness that triggers the AI. That's really the dream we're working towards."

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Meta Announces Discontinuation of Cross-Messaging Between Instagram and Facebook

Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, recently unveiled plans to halt cross-app communication chats between the two platforms. Effective mid-December 2023, users will no longer have the ability to engage in chats between Instagram and Facebook Messenger accounts, a move that has sparked both curiosity and speculation among the online community.

The decision, announced without a clear rationale from Meta, is speculated to potentially align with Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This legislation mandates prominent tech entities to facilitate interoperability between various messaging platforms, a requirement that may have influenced Meta’s decision regarding cross-platform communication.

“Once cross-app communication isn’t available, you won’t be able to start new conversations or calls with Facebook accounts from Instagram,” Meta highlighted in its official update. Existing chats involving Facebook accounts on Instagram will be rendered as read-only, restricting users from initiating new messages within these threads.

Image Source: indiatoday.in

The implications of this change are significant for users on both platforms. Instagram users will lose the capability to initiate conversations with Facebook accounts, and the read-only status will prevent any new messaging activity. Furthermore, Facebook accounts interacting with Instagram won’t have access to the Activity Status or the ability to ascertain if a message has been seen.

Meta clarified that existing chats with Facebook accounts on Instagram will not transition to the Facebook or Messenger inboxes. To sustain conversations with Facebook-linked contacts, users will need to initiate fresh chats through Messenger or Facebook from their respective Facebook accounts.

Potential Preparations for DMA Compliance

While Meta hasn’t explicitly stated the motive behind this shift, speculations abound that this move aligns with Meta’s preparation for DMA-compliant interoperability within Messenger. The decision to discontinue this specific cross-app chatting feature hints at potential restructuring to comply with regulatory requirements.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Meta’s decision to sever the direct messaging link between its two major platforms raises questions about the future of cross-platform interaction and the company’s strategies to adapt to regulatory frameworks.

In response to inquiries regarding this announcement, Meta has yet to offer further details or explanations, leaving users and industry experts eager for more insight into the company’s motives behind this substantial alteration in messaging functionalities.

Meta, IBM Create Industrywide AI Alliance to Share Technology

Meta, IBM Create Industrywide AI Alliance to Share Technology

In a groundbreaking move towards collaborative advancement in AI technology, Meta Platforms Inc and International Business Machines Corp are at the helm of a pioneering industry consortium. This coalition, dubbed the AI Alliance, comprises over 40 companies and organizations, all poised to drive the frontiers of open source AI innovation.

A Unified Vision for Responsible AI Development

The AI Alliance marks a concerted effort to steer AI technology towards responsible and ethical development. Emphasizing the creation of safety and security tools, the coalition is dedicated to nurturing an ecosystem where AI innovation aligns with ethical considerations. According to a recent statement, the focus encompasses expanding the repertoire of open source AI models. This shift, away from exclusive proprietary systems, aims to democratize access to AI technology, fostering a more collaborative and inclusive development landscape.

Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, underlined the significance of open development, stating, “We believe it’s better when AI is developed openly — more people can access the benefits, build innovative products, and work on safety.”

Meta, IBM Create Industrywide AI Alliance to Share Technology

Image Source: finance.yahoo.com

The AI Alliance sets its sights on multiple key initiatives, including the amplification of open source AI models and the coalescence with academic researchers. Open source AI technology, elucidated as a publicly accessible resource developed by a collective, is lauded for its efficiency in cultivating complex AI systems. Meta’s recent strides in releasing open source versions of its large language models have epitomized this commitment to broader accessibility.

Furthermore, the consortium plans to forge partnerships with academic and research entities such as the University of Notre Dame and the Mass Open Cloud Alliance. This collaborative approach seeks to synergize the expertise of industry leaders and academia, fostering a diverse pool of perspectives in AI development.

Charting a Course for Oversight and Governance

As the AI Alliance gains momentum, plans are underway to establish a governing board and technical oversight committee. These bodies will play pivotal roles in steering the strategic direction of the consortium, ensuring adherence to ethical AI practices and driving innovation in a responsible manner.

While the alliance boasts heavyweight participants like Oracle Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc, Intel Corp, and Stability AI, the absence of OpenAI — amidst recent controversies — underscores the global discourse on transparency in AI development.

The AI Alliance emerges as a beacon of collaborative progress in AI technology, poised to redefine the landscape through open source innovation and responsible development practices.

Meta Loses Bid to Push FTC Into Court on Privacy Deal

Meta Loses Bid to Push FTC Into Court on Privacy Deal

On Monday, the most recent phase of a legal battle over confidentiality was lost by Meta Platforms, the corporation that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. A federal judge in the United States determined that a US regulator may attempt to lower the amount of funds the social media giant receives from users who are younger than 18.

An application by Meta for a federal court to assume jurisdiction over the conflict with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was refused by Judge Timothy Kelly of the US District Court for the Columbia District.

The FTC charged Meta in May of, amongst other things, misrepresenting to parents the extent of their authority over who their kids interact with on the Messenger for Kids application.

Meta Loses Bid to Push FTC Into Court on Privacy Deal

Image Source: finance.yahoo.com

The Federal Trade Commission suggested modifying a 2019 deal that mandated Facebook pay five billion dollars. The Federal Trade Commission said that it will strengthen this prohibition, preventing Facebook from profiting from customer information obtained on anyone under the age of 18, particularly from its virtual reality ventures. Its ability to use facial recognition software would also be subject to more restrictions.

"We are considering our legal options in light of the Court's ruling and will continue to vigorously fight the FTC's unlawful attempt unilaterally to rewrite our agreement," a spokesman for the company said.

m.economictimes.com

More than 98 percent of Meta’s revenue comes from digital advertisements that are tailored to individual users’ profiles. TikTok, a short film app, and Meta are competing for the attention of youthful people.

According to a Pew Research Centre survey conducted in early 2023, 62 percent of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 said they used Instagram, compared to 17 percent who said they used WhatsApp.

The Federal Trade Commission has maintained that the district court lacked jurisdiction and argued that it was the agency’s responsibility to determine if its agreements needed to be altered. An appeal of a commission decision may be filed with the appropriate appeals court.

The Federal Trade Commission’s claims are without merit, says Meta

The FTC’s claims about minors and confidentiality, according to Meta, were “without merit.” The Federal Trade Commission chose not to respond.

Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission have reached settlements twice before over concerns regarding privacy.

“Today’s decision does not address the substance of the FTC’s allegations, which are without merit,” Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro said. “We will continue to invest in our privacy program and remain focused on protecting people’s privacy.”

finance.yahoo.com
Meta's New AI-Based Video Editing Tools Launched For FaceBook, Instagram

Meta’s New AI-Based Video Editing Tools Launched For FaceBook, Instagram

Meta Platforms unveiled a groundbreaking leap in video editing technology, debuting two new AI-driven features aimed at enhancing user experience across its social media dominions, Facebook and Instagram.

Emu Video: Creating Dynamic Four-Second Clips

The first innovation, Emu Video, revolutionizes content creation by swiftly generating four-second videos. It ingeniously pairs text prompts, captions, or images with corresponding descriptions. This dynamic tool streamlines the video creation process, offering a seamless blend of text and imagery for captivating content.

Emu Edit: Simplifying Video Alterations with Text Prompts

Complementing Emu Video is Emu Edit, a versatile editing feature empowering users to effortlessly modify and refine videos using text prompts. This functionality grants users greater flexibility and creative control over their video content, elevating the editing experience.

Meta's New AI-Based Video Editing Tools Launched For FaceBook, Instagram

Image Source: indiatvnews.com

These advancements build upon the foundation of Emu, the parent model renowned for its prowess in generating images based on textual cues. Emu’s capabilities have been integral in refining AI technology for Instagram, empowering users to transform photographs by altering visual styles and backgrounds.

Businesses and enterprises have fervently embraced the nascent generative AI market in the past year, seeking to leverage its capabilities for process refinement and innovation. The advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT last year further catalyzed this surge, fueling the quest for cutting-edge AI capabilities.

Meta’s exponential growth in the AI domain underscores its ambition to compete fiercely with industry giants like Microsoft, Google (under Alphabet), and Amazon. The company’s commitment to advancing AI-driven tools within its social media ecosystem reflects its dedication to pioneering innovation and enhancing user engagement.

As Meta continues to evolve its suite of AI-powered functionalities, these new video editing tools mark a significant step forward in enabling users to craft compelling and visually captivating content for Facebook and Instagram.

Meta to Offer Ad-Free Facebook and Instagram Subscriptions in Europe

Meta to Offer Ad-Free Facebook and Instagram Subscriptions in Europe

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, is set to introduce a new subscription service in Europe, offering users the option to enjoy ad-free access to these platforms. The move comes as Meta seeks to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of data privacy regulations and user expectations in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland.

Meta to Offer Ad-Free Facebook and Instagram Subscriptions in Europe

Image Source: businesspost.ie

Starting from November, European users will have the opportunity to subscribe to ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram. There will be two pricing options available: a web-based subscription at €9.99 per month and a mobile subscription via Apple Inc.’s and Android’s operating systems, priced at €12.99 per month. This initiative marks an important step for Meta in providing its users with a choice to experience their favorite social media platforms in a new, uninterrupted way.

Meta Responds to EU Data Privacy Regulations with Launch of Ad-Free Subscriptions

The decision to introduce these subscription services is in response to the escalating regulations surrounding the collection and utilization of user data in Europe. A key factor influencing this development was the ruling by the EU Court of Justice in July, which emphasized the importance of companies providing alternative, privacy-respecting services, “if necessary for an appropriate fee.” In line with this decision, Meta is now offering its European user base a paid alternative that excludes ads.

Meta intends to maintain its existing ad-supported services in these regions at no extra cost to users. This means that individuals who choose not to subscribe will still have access to the familiar ad-supported versions of Facebook and Instagram. The company emphasizes that this move is about offering greater choice to users, allowing them to decide how they prefer to engage with these platforms.

Ad-free subscriptions have become an appealing option for users who value their online privacy and want to have a more streamlined and uninterrupted social media experience. By introducing these subscription plans, Meta is addressing the demand for enhanced privacy options and demonstrating its commitment to adapt to the changing regulatory environment in Europe.

This announcement follows Meta’s broader efforts to enhance data privacy, including its plans to move user data from Ireland to the United States, which is driven by the EU’s concerns about data transfers. The introduction of ad-free subscriptions is yet another step in the company’s strategy to navigate the complex web of privacy regulations while ensuring a positive user experience.

As the world of online privacy and data protection continues to evolve, Meta’s decision to offer ad-free subscriptions in Europe is a proactive response to the shifting landscape. It represents a crucial step in providing users with a choice that aligns with their personal preferences and respect for their digital privacy. The subscription services set to launch in November signal Meta’s dedication to maintaining a strong presence in the European market and ensuring the satisfaction of its diverse user base.