Mark Zuckerberg Teases Wearable Tech with Neural Interface in Facebook Post

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Paley Center in New York, Oct. 25, 2019. (AP)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Paley Center in New York, Oct. 25, 2019. (AP)
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Mark Zuckerberg Teases Wearable Tech with Neural Interface in Facebook Post

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Paley Center in New York, Oct. 25, 2019. (AP)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Paley Center in New York, Oct. 25, 2019. (AP)

Meta Platforms Inc's chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, on Wednesday teased a new smart glasses project with EssilorLuxottica, posting a photo of the eyewear company's chairman sporting a prototype of a neural interface wristband - designed for directing other devices.

"Here Leonardo is using a prototype of our neural interface EMG wristband that will eventually let you control your glasses and other devices," Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook, referring to EssilorLuxottica's chairman, Leonardo Del Vecchio. He closed his message with a smiley-face emoji wearing sunglasses.

Facebook - which changed its name to Meta Platforms in October - said in a blog post last year that it planned to develop a wristband that would control augmented reality glasses, allowing users to interact with a virtual world using finger movements.
Zuckerberg was in Milan to discuss plans for new smart glasses with the eyewear company, he said.

Tech companies Amazon.com Inc, Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google have piled in to the wearable tech business, developing augmented reality glasses in a bet they could one day replace mobile phones. Google also embraced fitness tracking technology by acquiring Fitbit for $2.1 billion.

In 2020, EssilorLuxottica and Meta Platforms announced a multiyear collaboration to develop smart glasses. They currently sell frames like the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer model that are embedded with technology, allowing the wearer to take photos and listen to music and calls, starting at $299.



Microsoft to Invest $400 Million in Switzerland on AI, Cloud Computing

A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
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Microsoft to Invest $400 Million in Switzerland on AI, Cloud Computing

A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

Microsoft will invest $400 million in Switzerland, the company said on Monday, with the money going towards developing its cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The US tech company announced the investment at a meeting of Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin and its vice chair Brad Smith in Bern.

Microsoft, which employs 1,000 people in Switzerland, did not give details on how many jobs the investment would create, Reuters said.

The money will be used to expand and upgrade its four data centers near Geneva and Zurich, responding to increased demand for AI and cloud computing services in Switzerland, it said.

The expansion will serve existing and new customers and allow data to remain within Swiss borders - an important requirement for sectors like healthcare, finance and government.

Microsoft will also expand its partnership work with small and medium-sized companies and step up training efforts to help people use AI and digital tools.

"Switzerland has created one of the world's leading innovation ecosystems, blending world-class research with real-world applications," Smith said in a statement.