Technologies

Facebook Connect: How to watch the big AR, VR event

The social network is doubling down on the metaverse.

At its annual conference Thursday, Facebook is expected to unveil more details about its vision for the future of virtual reality and augmented reality.

The social media giant has been betting big on what it calls the «metaverse,»a virtual space where people can be present with friends and family like they’re there in person. Work on the metaverse has already begun. Facebook has been building new versions of its VR headsets and recently partnered with Ray-Ban on its first pair of smart glasses.

«I view this work as critical to our mission because delivering a sense of presence — like you’re right there with another person — that’s the holy grail of online social experience,» Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday, ahead of the Facebook Connect conference.

The big event comes during another rough week for the social media giant. Several news outlets published a series of stories on Monday from a trove of leaked Facebook documents, underscoring the challenges the company faces as it tries to police content globally. Concerned that Facebook prioritizes its profits over user safety, Frances Haugen, the former Facebook product manager turned whistleblower, gathered the documents before she left Facebook in May. The Wall Street Journal also used some of these documents earlier in its series known as The Facebook Files.

Zuckerberg addressed the leaked documents on Monday, saying that the company is trying to balance free expression with efforts to reduce harmful content. More than 40,000 people work on safety and security at Facebook, and the social network expects to spend more than $5 billion on safety and security in 2021, he said. Content moderation in virtual reality, though, has its own challenges.

Here’s what you need to know about Facebook Connect:

When

The conference is scheduled to kick off Thursday at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.

Where

The conference is set to be streamed live on Facebook.

What to expect

Facebook has said it’s working on a Pro version of its Oculus Quest headset. The company could provide more details about that product. With the release of its first smart glasses, the social network might provide details about what’s next as it develops augmented reality glasses.

The conference could also be an opportunity for Facebook to talk about its work with creators and developers, who’ll be essential for building out its next apps for Facebook’s metaverse. The company is already testing a virtual reality workplace app and a VR social space known as Horizon Worlds.

Meanwhile, there are also rumors that Facebook could do some rebranding with a new name during the conference. The company said Monday that it’s planning to break out reporting for Facebook Reality Labs, which houses its augmented and virtual reality efforts. Zuckerberg said the company plans to invest $10 billion this year in its metaverse efforts.

Technologies

A ChatGPT Screenless Phone Could Be Coming, as OpenAI Reportedly Eyes Jony Ive’s AI Startup

Ive, the designer of the iPhone, has a startup that’s reportedly developing a range of AI-powered devices.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI is reportedly looking into a potential acquisition of an artificial intelligence startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The deal could exceed $500 million, according to The Information.

The venture, called io Products, is developing a range of AI-powered technologies including a screenless phone concept and smart home devices, the publication said. io Products has denied that a phone is in development, however, and OpenAI didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The closely guarded AI hardware initiative was first reported by The New York Times in September. Ive — who is renowned for designing the iPhone, iPad and other iconic Apple products — said he was partnering with Altman to create a new AI-driven computing device aimed at being «less socially disruptive than the iPhone.»

Although few specifics have emerged about the device, Ive and Altman have reportedly secured early-stage backing from investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Funding was expected to reach $1 billion by the end of last year, according to The New York Times.

In addition to acquisition talks, OpenAI is said to be exploring strategic partnerships with the venture. If a deal materializes, OpenAI would gain access to both the underlying technology and the core engineering team.

The report arrives as the AI voice assistant landscape grows, with OpenAI, Google, Meta and others racing to advance their AI chatbot offerings. A deal could also tighten OpenAI’s integration with a hardware player.

Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom — founded after his departure from Apple five years ago — is spearheading the device’s development. The company, co-founded by renowned luxury designer Marc Newson, a key contributor to the Apple Watch, includes former Apple executives such as Tang Tan, who led iPhone hardware design. LoveFrom’s client list includes brands like Airbnb and Ferrari.

OpenAI would ‘maintain its lead’ in AI

Jitesh Ubrani, a manager at market research firm IDC, told CNET a move into hardware would enable OpenAI to continue expanding across various platforms and make a stronger push into more environments.

«By partnering with a hardware startup, OpenAI can help maintain its lead across these other device types and usage scenarios,» Ubrani said. «Until the launch of AI, smart home hardware innovation [started] to plateau and by combining forces, the two companies could also benefit from growth in this space by injecting AI into the home.»

Technologies

An iPad Instagram App Might Actually Be Happening

The social media platform has long focused on its smartphone app, which looks clunky on tablets. That may be about to change.

Meta may be working on a dedicated Instagram app for the iPad, nearly 15 years after making a decision not to launch one. The social media giant is reportedly now developing an iPad-friendly version of Instagram, according to The Information.

Instagram has long existed solely as a smartphone app, though it is also accessible via its website. The move could mark a shift in Meta’s mobile strategy and offer Instagram users a more immersive experience on iPads. The timing also would coincide with Meta’s broader push to better compete with TikTok.

TikTok’s legal status in the US remains in limbo. US President Donald Trump recently extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an approved US buyer by another 75 days but the app’s fate is still uncertain.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in the past has downplayed rumors it would launch an iPad app, saying it wasn’t a priority. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, tweeted in February 2022 that «it’s still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority.»

«Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now, we’re very heads down on other things,» Mosseri added in February 2022.

A year later, Mosseri echoed that sentiment as the company focused on building out Threads. He also previously said expanding the app to more platforms would add costs and emphasized that the team is «leaner than you think.»

It’s possible, however, that interest has shifted. The company is also reportedly considering spinning off its Reels feature into a stand-alone app as it works to improve recommendation algorithms and support longer Reels, according to The Information.

In addition, Instagram recently launched a video editing app called Edits, which bears a strong resemblance to ByteDance’s CapCut, and has reportedly tried to lure TikTok creators with cash bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Sol Messing, a research associate professor at NYU’s Center for Social Media and Politics, told CNET that Meta may see strategic value in optimizing for larger screens beyond competing with TikTok. Messing was previously an employee of several tech companies, including Meta and X.

«There isn’t much data out there on iPad TikTok use, but they have continued shipping updates to [the TikTok app], suggesting they think the benefits outweigh the costs,» he said.

Messing pointed to a few studies suggesting more screen real estate might translate to more engagement, productivity and higher levels of attention.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, April 13

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 13.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword wants to know a lot of «Big (Color)» expressions, so hope you’re up on that. 8-A also threw me off — while I’ve heard the abbreviation they wanted, it didn’t come right to mind. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: State sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson
Answer: UVA

4A clue: Flower containers
Answer: POTS

6A clue: «Crib» or «pad,» for «house»
Answer: SLANG

8A clue: Pants, informally
Answer: TROU

9A clue: Company nicknamed «Big Blue»
Answer: IBM

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Company nicknamed «Big Brown»
Answer: UPS

2D clue: What «V» stands for on a battery
Answer: VOLT

3D clue: Big name in 1980s arcade games
Answer: ATARI

5D clue: Stuck-up sort
Answer: SNOB

7D clue: Big Red, e.g.
Answer: GUM

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.