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Meta employees disapprove of the Metaverse app

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Meta employees have given the metaverse app a thumbs down

Meta insiders have given its Metaverse app the big thumbs down amidst the company launching its new Quest Pro virtual and mixed reality headset this week.

Horizon Worlds, Meta’s flagship Metaverse app has been reported as buggy and is barely being used by the development team hired to create it.

In a leaked memo, Vishal Shah, the VP of the Metaverse instructed the development team that the app would remain in a “quality lockdown.”

The lockdown will remain in place until at least the end of 2022, in a bid to iron out issues.

It revealed Horizon Worlds would be made accessible to a larger audience for further testing, once the problems are resolved.

The app aims to facilitate users in building avatars so they can interact within virtual worlds.

Meta unveiled its Quest Pro virtual and mixed reality headset this week. However, the device has been criticised for its $1500USD price tag.

Virtual reality headset

Its design has also come under fire. Some users complaining that the headwear is uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time.

Once it is available for purchase, the device can be used in Meta’s Horizon Workrooms, and by some developer apps.

The device does not work with Meta’s flailing Horizon Worlds app.

The general public is continually sold the utopian concept of the wonders of its Metaverse by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

It does not seem Meta’s current rate of technological development is in line with the bold claims being made.

The reality of the Metaverse seems to be much further away than Meta leads the public to believe.

Tech giants like Bill Gates are predicting “most meeting will take place in the Metaverse within the next three years.” However, others beg to differ.

Even when the technology of Meta’s version of the Metaverse is ready, mainstream adoption may be a highly optimistic concept within the timeframes being suggested.

By Dr Karen Sutherland, University of the Sunshine Coast and Dharana Digital

Dr Karen Sutherland is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast where she designs and delivers social media education and research. Dr Sutherland is also the Co-Founder and Social Media Specialist at Dharana Digital marketing agency focused on helping people working in the health and wellness space.

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OpenAI to launch TikTok-like AI video app Sora

OpenAI to launch Sora, an AI-driven social app with TikTok-like features amid TikTok’s regulatory uncertainties

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OpenAI to launch Sora, an AI-driven social app with TikTok-like features amid TikTok’s regulatory uncertainties

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In Short:
– OpenAI is launching Sora 2, a social media app with AI-generated videos, competing with TikTok.
– The app features a unique identity verification system and provides short video content without uploads.
OpenAI is set to unveil Sora 2, a new social media app that imitates TikTok by offering AI-generated video content. The strategy positions OpenAI to directly challenge established platforms in the AI video market.The platform has begun internal testing. Employees have reacted positively, raising productivity concerns among managers. Sora 2 features swipe-to-scroll navigation and offers personalized video recommendations.

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A unique identity verification system allows users to authenticate their likeness for use in AI-generated videos. Users will be notified when their likeness is used in videos, regardless of whether these are published. Video lengths are capped at 10 seconds, with no capability to upload personal content.

The app includes typical social media features like likes and comments, with a user interface that resembles TikTok’s “For You” page.

Strategic Launch

OpenAI’s timing for this launch is strategic, coinciding with uncertainties surrounding TikTok’s U.S. operations. Recent deals aim to transfer majority control of TikTok’s American business to U.S. investors while permitting ByteDance a minority stake.

OpenAI perceives the current turbulence as a unique opportunity to introduce a competitive platform for short-form videos, appealing to users seeking alternatives during this period of regulatory scrutiny.


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Optus CEO under pressure after second emergency outage

Optus under mounting pressure for CEO resignation after second emergency outage affects thousands and raises safety concerns

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Optus under mounting pressure for CEO resignation after second emergency outage affects thousands and raises safety concerns

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In Short:
– Optus faces pressure after a second emergency service outage, affecting 4,500 customers for nine hours.
– Calls for CEO Stephen Rue’s resignation intensify amid scrutiny over network investment and safety mechanisms.
Australian telecommunications company Optus is under increasing pressure to address leadership concerns following a second emergency service outage in ten days.
The incident occurred in Dapto, south of Sydney, where around 4,500 customers were unable to reach Triple Zero emergency services due to a faulty mobile tower for nine hours.Optus confirmed all affected individuals were safe, but the repeated outages have raised significant alarms. The first incident took place on September 18, when a firewall upgrade blocked approximately 600 emergency calls across multiple states for 13 hours, resulting in at least four fatalities.

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Calls for CEO Stephen Rue’s resignation have intensified, with opposition spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh stating that citizens need confidence in the emergency network.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the situation as “completely unacceptable.” The response from Optus has faced criticism, especially regarding the delay in notifying emergency services after the September 18 incident.

Efforts to address the failures are underway, with Singtel Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon scheduled to meet with Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has launched an investigation into the outages.

Governance experts caution that merely replacing leadership will not resolve underlying issues, suggesting that reduced spending on network infrastructure is a contributing factor.

Federal Investigation

New scrutiny has emerged regarding Optus’s network investment, with reports indicating a budget decrease from $850 million in 2024 to $613 million this year.

Concerns have been raised about the absence of critical safety mechanisms, including a reliable system to reroute emergency calls when failures occur.


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Meta intensifies robot development amidst competitive landscape

Meta enters robotics market with strategic partnerships and significant investments amid competition from Tesla, Apple and Google

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Meta enters robotics market with strategic partnerships and significant investments amid competition from Tesla, Apple and Google

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In Short:
– Meta is launching autonomous robots, beginning with a CA-1 AI robot in Germany for domestic tasks.
– The company plans to hire 100 engineers as part of a $60-65 billion AI investment for 2025.
Meta ventures into robotics, joining a market where Tesla’s Optimus robot showcases in controlled settings. Apple is also exploring robotic devices, with planned humanoid concepts by 2027.
Google is advancing robotics via DeepMind with AI models tailored for robotics applications.Banner

Meta recently launched its first autonomous robot in Germany through a partnership with Circus SE, deploying a CA-1 AI robot at its Munich office.

The initiative is part of Meta’s objective to gather data to support its robotics focus on domestic tasks such as cleaning and laundry folding.

Strategic Investment

Industry analysts point to Meta’s software-licensing strategy as crucial in the competitive landscape, where firms often encounter challenges with hardware costs.

By positioning itself to gain from various robotics manufacturers’ successes, Meta utilises lessons from its virtual reality investments, which have seen substantial spending with limited consumer uptake.

The company is set to hire around 100 engineers for its robotics programme within a broader $60-65 billion AI infrastructure investment plan for 2025.

The indicates a strong commitment to integrating AI into physical applications.


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