Meta is redirecting part of its metaverse spending towards AI-powered glasses and wearables, aiming to capitalise on the growing interest in these devices. The shift comes after years of substantial investment in virtual reality, which has yet to convince investors of its long-term potential fully.
Reports indicate that Meta plans to reduce its metaverse budget by up to 30 percent, a move that lifted its share price by more than 3.4 percent. The company stated it has no broader changes planned, while offering no clarification on whether the adjustment will lead to job cuts.
The latest AI glasses, launched in September, received strong early feedback for features such as an in-lens display that can describe scenes and translate text. Their debut has intensified competition, with several industry players, including firms in China, racing to develop smart glasses and wearable technology.
Meta continues to face scepticism surrounding the metaverse, despite investing heavily in VR headsets and its Horizon Worlds platform. Interest in AI has surged, prompting the company to place a greater focus on large AI models, including those integrated into WhatsApp, and on producing more advanced smart devices.
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Authorities in Taiwan will block the Chinese social media and shopping app RedNote for a year following a surge in online scams linked to the platform. Officials report that more than 1,700 fraud cases have been linked to the app since last year, resulting in losses exceeding NT$247 million.
Regulators report that the company failed to meet required data-security standards and did not respond to requests for a plan to strengthen cybersecurity.
Internet providers have been instructed to restrict access, affecting several million users who now see a security warning message when opening the app.
Concerns over Beijing’s online influence and the spread of disinformation have added pressure on Taiwanese authorities to tighten oversight of Chinese platforms.
RedNote’s operators are also facing scrutiny in mainland China, where regulators have criticised the company over what they labelled ‘negative’ content.
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England’s preparations for next summer’s World Cup increasingly rely on AI systems designed to sharpen decision-making both on and off the pitch. Analysts now utilise advanced tools to analyse vast datasets in hours rather than days, providing coaches with clearer insights before matches.
Penalty planning has become one of England’s most significant gains, with AI mapping opposition tendencies and each player’s striking style to ease pressure during high-stakes moments.
Players say the guidance helps them commit with confidence, while goalkeepers benefit from more detailed and precise information.
Player well-being is also guided by daily AI-powered checks that flag signs of fatigue and inform training loads, meal plans, and medical support.
Specialists insist that human judgement remains central, yet acknowledge that wealthier nations may gain an edge as smaller federations struggle to afford similar technologies.
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Ireland’s online safety regulator has agreed a new partnership with Australia’s eSafety Commissioner to strengthen global approaches to digital harm. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reinforces shared ambitions to improve online protection for children and adults.
The Irish and Australian plan to exchange data, expertise and methodological insights to advance safer digital platforms. Officials describe the arrangement as a way to enhance oversight of systems used to minimise harmful content and promote responsible design.
Leaders from both organisations emphasised the need for accountability across the tech sector. Their comments highlighted efforts to ensure that platforms embed user protection into their product architecture, rather than relying solely on reactive enforcement.
The MoU also opens avenues for collaborative policy development and joint work on education programs. Officials expect a deeper alignment around age assurance technologies and emerging regulatory challenges as online risks continue to evolve.
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OpenAI has launched OpenAI for Australia, a nationwide initiative to unlock the economic and societal benefits of AI. The program aims to support sovereign AI infrastructure, upskill Australians, and accelerate the country’s local AI ecosystem.
CEO Sam Altman highlighted Australia’s deep technical talent and strong institutions as key factors in becoming a global leader in AI.
A significant partnership with NEXTDC will see the development of a next-generation hyperscale AI campus and large GPU supercluster at Sydney’s Eastern Creek S7 site.
The project is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost local supplier opportunities, strengthen STEM and AI skills, and provide sovereign compute capacity for critical workloads.
OpenAI will also upskill more than 1.2 million Australians in collaboration with CommBank, Coles and Wesfarmers. OpenAI Academy will provide tailored modules to give workers and small business owners practical AI skills for confident daily use.
The nationwide rollout of courses is scheduled to begin in 2026.
OpenAI is launching its first Australian start-up program with local venture capital firms Blackbird, Square Peg, and AirTree to support home-grown innovation. Start-ups will receive API credits, mentorship, workshops, and access to Founder Day to accelerate product development and scale AI solutions locally.
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Meta has begun removing Australian users under 16 from Facebook, Instagram and Threads ahead of a national ban taking effect on 10 December. Canberra requires major platforms to block younger users or face substantial financial penalties.
Meta says it is deleting accounts it reasonably believes belong to underage teenagers while allowing them to download their data. Authorities expect hundreds of thousands of adolescents to be affected, given Instagram’s large cohort of 13 to 15 year olds.
Regulators argue the law addresses harmful recommendation systems and exploitative content, though YouTube has warned that safety filters will weaken for unregistered viewers. The Australian communications minister has insisted platforms must strengthen their own protections.
Rights groups have challenged the law in court, claiming unjust limits on expression. Officials concede teenagers may try using fake identification or AI-altered images, yet still expect platforms to deploy strong countermeasures.
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Leaders from academia and industry in Hyderabad, India are stressing that humans must remain central in decision-making as AI and automation expand across society. Collaborative intelligence, combining AI experts, domain specialists and human judgement, is seen as essential for responsible adoption.
Universities are encouraged to treat students as primary stakeholders, adapting curricula to integrate AI responsibly and avoid obsolescence. Competency-based, values-driven learning models are being promoted to prepare students to question, shape and lead through digital transformation.
Experts highlighted that modern communication is co-produced by humans, machines and algorithms. Designing AI to augment human agency rather than replace it ensures a balance between technology and human decision-making across education and industry.
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OpenAI Foundation has named the first recipients of the People-First AI Fund, awarding $40.5 million to 208 community groups across the United States. The grants will be disbursed by the end of the year, with a further $9.5 million in Board-directed funding to follow.
Nationwide listening sessions and recommendations from an independent Nonprofit Commission shaped applications. Nearly 3,000 organisations applied, underscoring strong demand for support across US communities. Final selections were made following a multi-stage human review involving external experts.
Grantees span digital literacy programmes, rural health initiatives and Indigenous media networks. Many operate with limited exposure to AI, reflecting the fund’s commitment to trusted, community-centred groups. California features prominently, consistent with the Foundation’s ties to its home state.
Funded projects span primary care, youth training in agricultural areas, and Tribal AI literacy work. Groups are also applying AI to food networks, disability education, arts and local business support. Each organisation sets priorities through flexible grants.
The programme focuses on AI literacy, community innovation and economic opportunity, with further grants targeting sector-level transformation. OpenAI Foundation says it will continue learning alongside grantees and supporting efforts that broaden opportunity while grounding AI adoption in local US needs.
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The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has started a live testing programme for AI with major financial firms. The initiative aims to explore AI’s benefits and risks in retail financial services while ensuring safe and responsible deployment.
Participating firms, including NatWest, Monzo, Santander and Scottish Widows, receive guidance from FCA regulators and technical partner Advai. Use cases being trialled range from debt resolution and financial advice to customer engagement and smarter spending tools.
Insights from the testing will help the FCA shape future regulations and governance frameworks for AI in financial markets. The programme complements the regulator’s Supercharged Sandbox, with a second cohort of firms due to begin testing in April 2026.
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Game development is poised to transform as Sega begins to incorporate AI selectively. The Japanese studio aims to enhance efficiency across production processes while preserving the integrity of creative work, such as character design.
Executives emphasised that AI will primarily support tasks such as content transcription and workflow optimisation, avoiding roles that require artistic skills. Careful evaluation of each potential use case will guide its implementation across projects.
The debate over generative AI continues to divide the gaming industry, with some developers raising concerns that candidates may misrepresent AI-generated work during the hiring process. Studios are increasingly requiring proof of actual creative ability to avoid productivity issues.
Other developers, including Arrowhead Game Studios, emphasise the importance of striking a balance between AI use and human creativity. By reducing repetitive tasks rather than replacing artistic roles, studios aim to enhance efficiency while preserving the unique contributions of human designers.
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