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Everything Announced At Meta’s Connect 2023 Event
Including the Meta Quest 3, Ray-Ban smart glasses, and Meta AI updates.
The Meta Connect 2023 keynote event saw the company share news about its latest products and technologies. CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed updates to Meta’s AI, a new pair of smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban were previewed, and the company’s flagship Quest 3 headset was given a release date.
Meta Quest 3 Release Date
The Meta Quest 3 blends augmented reality into the wearer’s physical surroundings. The headset runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip to double the performance of its predecessor and offer higher resolution and increased depth of field.
Meta has revamped the Quest’s controllers by ditching the tracking rings and adding haptic feedback, while interpupillary adjustment helps glasses wearers get more comfortable.
Along with upcoming native VR games, the Quest 3 will support Xbox Cloud Gaming this December. In addition, Microsoft 365 apps will be compatible by the end of the year, and users will soon be able to access Windows on the headset.
Meta Quest 3 pre-orders are open now, starting at $500 for the 128GB version. The headsets will be shipped by October 10.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
Meta has teamed up with Ray-Ban to develop a new pair of smart glasses that offer much-improved specs (no pun intended) over the original Ray-Ban Stories. A 12MP wide-angle camera can record 1080p video at 60fps, while the glasses also include 32GB of storage, five spatial audio mics and upgraded speakers.
Pre-orders for the $299 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses open today, shipping on October 17.
Meta AI Updates
Meta now offers a range of AI chatbot personalities and a new generative AI assistant, available on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and other new hardware.
Meanwhile, generative AI image editing is coming to Instagram, along with a green screen similar to the one already unveiled by YouTube. In addition, AI-generated stickers are being rolled out across Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook Stories.
News
Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost
The tech giant also plans to develop local AI solutions, and train regional talent to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Google has announced plans to set up a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, a move aimed at accelerating technological growth and economic development across the wider gulf region. The ambitious project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an initiative that champions technology and innovation as central to economic diversification away from the oil industry.
According to Google, the hub has the potential to contribute as much as $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The initiative will likely speed up the adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services — not only within Saudi Arabia but also throughout the wider MENA region and beyond.
Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighted the importance of the project for the Kingdom: “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals,” he explained. Al Rumayyan also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s combination of sector knowledge and long-term investment strategies makes it an ideal environment for global technology partnerships.
Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East
A central aim of Google’s initiative is nurturing local talent. The AI hub will offer a range of training, research, and collaboration opportunities for developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. Google envisions training “millions” of people, helping to create a robust innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and ensures economic benefits reach all segments of society.
As international technology giants increasingly look to develop solutions tailored to regional needs, Google’s initiative reflects a progressive approach that leverages the strengths of local markets. With the potential to inject billions into the economy and strengthen digital capacities, Saudi Arabia could soon emerge as a prominent center for AI innovation in the Middle East.
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