Meta Shifts Away From Metaverse Ambitions As AI Investments Accelerate

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 30, 2026

Meta Platforms reported a $4.03 billion operating loss in its Reality Labs division for the first quarter, on revenue of $402 million. The result compares with Wall Street expectations of a $4.82 billion loss on $488.8 million in revenue, indicating a narrower loss but lower sales.

Reality Labs Losses And Strategic Reassessment

Reality Labs, which develops virtual and augmented reality technologies and wearable devices, has recorded cumulative operating losses exceeding $80 billion since 2020. These results highlight the ongoing challenge of generating revenue from immersive technologies, a focus area since Mark Zuckerberg rebranded the company in 2021.

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Renewed Focus On AI Innovation

At the same time, investment priorities are shifting toward artificial intelligence. Growth in generative AI since the release of ChatGPT in 2022 has increased competition across the sector. Meta is expanding work on AI models and infrastructure as it competes with companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Workforce Restructuring And Product Reallocation

Alongside these changes, the company has adjusted its workforce and product focus. In January, around 1,000 employees were laid off from Reality Labs, with resources redirected toward AI-related products. Products such as the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, developed with EssilorLuxottica, have influenced this shift. Additional job reductions in March affected several hundred roles, followed by a broader plan to reduce the workforce by around 10%, or approximately 8,000 employees, and halt hiring for 6,000 positions.

Conclusion

The quarter reflects continued losses in Reality Labs alongside increased investment in artificial intelligence and changes in workforce allocation. Results combine ongoing spending on immersive technologies with a shift toward AI development and related products.

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A New Twitter-Inspired Social Network Is Taking Shape

by News Editor

August 27, 2026

A new social network called Twitter.now is entering the market, with a founding team that includes former Twitter trademark counsel Stephen Coates. The service is being developed by startup Operation Bluebird.

As Ars Technica reported, X sued the company last year and asked a Delaware judge to block the launch. Operation Bluebird argued in a petition that X had abandoned trademarks including “Twitter” and “Tweet.”

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Coates has said the project is not an attempt to recreate the original Twitter. In a LinkedIn post, he described the platform as a new public space focused on trust, transparency and user choice.

AI System To Rate Posts

Twitter.now is currently being tested, with early access priced at $20. Its main feature is VERA, an AI system designed to evaluate posts, verify claims and provide sources and context.

Posts receive a trust score, with users eventually able to set a minimum score to filter their feeds. The company says this approach will give people more control over what they see instead of leaving those decisions entirely to an algorithm.

Moderation Remains A Challenge

Scaling moderation will be one of the platform’s biggest tests. Social networks have repeatedly struggled with content moderation as their communities grow, and newer platforms such as Bluesky have faced similar criticism.

Operation Bluebird says VERA will form the basis of its moderation and verification system. A second version is already planned, with expanded tools that would let users set a specific trust threshold for the posts appearing in their feeds.

For now, Twitter.now remains in an early testing phase, combining the familiarity of the Twitter name with an AI-driven approach to evaluating online information.

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