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META-MORPHOSIS: LLAMAS, GLASSES, AND GEOPOLITICS

This week felt like a turning point that’s been a long time coming. Meta’s unveiling-but -not-launch of their first AR glasses (‘Orion’) and enhanced AI offerings seems to mark an ‘iPhone moment’ for them, and the evolution of technology—finally tipping augmented reality into the mainstream after years of speculation and anticipation. It’s not just hardware; it’s Meta betting big on an integrated ecosystem where AI and AR converge, opening up new frontiers for how we work, socialise, and entertain. Suffice to say, the nerds are happy (see pic below). Privacy bods, less so, we’re about to get a lot more cameras in (let alone on) our faces. But hey, let’s let Zuck have his moment and be positive for a moment.

Beyond Meta’s big leap, the week also spotlighted other tectonic shifts shaping the digital landscape. The unrelenting pursuit of AI supremacy took a notable twist as Apple stepped back from the over subscribed OpenAI funding round. Simultaneously, the unsettling use of AI by hate groups shone a light on the dangerous edge of emerging tech, where unchecked capabilities have real-world consequences. And all of this is playing out against a backdrop of geopolitical chess moves, cue China’s strategic push to weaken reliance on US chips—a clear signal of the accelerating tech decoupling between the world’s two largest economies.

Before we continue, if you're even slightly curious about Meta's direction and the future of Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and the four billions users they have, be sure to attend TNN on October 17 ⬇

‘THE FUTURE OF…META’
Nick Baughan, Head of Global Agencies will be doing the honours at the next TNN at XCHG Space, Oct 17 @ 8-10am. Apostle coffee will be served and breakfast is on us. Plus you get to cowork the whole day @ 22 Bishopsgate. Secure your spot now / TBD+ members go free, join here.

Meta’s announcement of its first augmented reality glasses could be the pivotal computing moment that people have speculated about for years, similar to when Steve Jobs first held the iPhone on stage, but success is never a given when it comes to people putting things on their face. Meta has been relentless in its pursuit of augmented and virtual reality, with mixed successes up to now (around $50 billion). But this announcement is different: the AR glasses, bolstered by advances in their Llama AI models, are Meta’s boldest bid yet to reimagine how we interact with digital spaces. The integration of AI directly into AR functionality is a promise of a more intuitive and seamless reality where the lines between physical and digital blur—an ambitious leap that Mark Zuckerberg is clearly gambling could shift the entire consumer tech landscape.

The critical aspect of this move is the convergence of AI and AR. Llama 3.2, which supports multimodal features, exemplifies Meta’s push towards creating an interface that’s context-aware and responsive, potentially changing the way we navigate daily life. Imagine the simplicity of real-time translations or on-demand information delivered straight through the glasses—no screen, no typing, just immersion. The development underscores Meta’s strategy to stay ahead of competitors like Apple and Google, particularly after Apple’s Vision Pro announcement earlier this year. If Meta can successfully deliver on the promise of affordable, accessible AR integrated with AI, it could finally fulfil the dream of a new computing paradigm—one that people have been putting off acknowledging, despite years of hype.

However, with great advancements come immense power, and the stakes for controlling this next chapter of technological evolution are high. The same week, we saw Apple quietly withdrew from joining a major funding round for OpenAI—a surprising move that suggests Apple might be reevaluating several elements in its AI ecosystem. Given the ferocity of the AI race, particularly with Microsoft and Google making strides in generative models, Apple’s withdrawal might indicate discomfort with the regulatory, ethical, or financial implications of being too deeply tied to a specific AI provider. Equally it could just be because OpenAI has had a lot of drama recently and what’s the harm in waiting? Any way you look at it, the move is a strategic pause, but one that could either slow their momentum or let them regroup for a more thoughtful approach in a fast-evolving field. You can find out everything that’s going on with OpenAI with your own ‘What Did OpenAI Do This Week?’ subscription.

Meta’s advances also sit uneasily alongside a dark narrative unfolding in the AI domain. Neo-Nazi groups using AI to create rebranded Hitler propaganda underline the dual-use nature of this technology. The rapid adoption of AI for misinformation and propaganda is not just a tech issue—it’s a social crisis waiting to explode. It raises urgent questions about who gets to wield this technology, under what oversight, and how society mitigates the risks. The misuse of AI for such inflammatory purposes casts a long shadow over every advancement we celebrate, reminding us that unchecked technological power can have devastating real-world impacts.

Rounding off with China playing the long game in its battle for technological independence. Reports that China is discouraging local firms from purchasing Nvidia’s H20 chips are yet another move in the ongoing US-China tech decoupling saga. The strategy is clear: reduce dependency on US technology while building domestic capabilities. By limiting Nvidia’s penetration, China seeks to spur its semiconductor industry’s growth, but this is more than a mere market decision—it’s a geopolitical manoeuvre with far-reaching consequences for global tech supply chains, investment strategies, and ultimately, who leads in the AI arms race.

These stories offer a snapshot of an industry in the midst of morphing into a new era. Meta’s ambition to define the future of computing with AR and AI is a gamble on a new interface, while the broader context of AI’s evolving—and sometimes dangerous—uses shows just how high the stakes are. All this unfolds against a backdrop of geopolitics, where technology is increasingly not just an industry, but a battleground. Hunker down folks, the lines are just getting drawn.

SO WHAT?

Meta’s new AR glasses aren’t just a product; they could be the starting gun for the next race in computing, one that shifts us away from smartphones and screens. This transition will determine how we interact with information—and who gets to control that interface. At the same time, the AI field is under scrutiny, not only for its corporate rivalries but also for ethical concerns that highlight the need for governance and restraint. Right now, they’re a prototype that works, and there’s no timeline (although expect no more than three years) or price point (got to be less than $1k).

In a world increasingly divided by geopolitics, every decision in tech has its ripple effects. China’s push to limit Nvidia’s chip sales indicates a deliberate strategy to foster independence, reshaping the global supply chain and hinting at a future where the tech world may fracture into distinct spheres of influence. These trends emphasise why the power to create, distribute, and regulate technology is more than a business—it’s a geopolitical weapon.

__ DO __ Explore. AR Integration probably isn’t where you think it is. If your company has not yet explored the potential of AR, this is the moment to start experimenting. Meta’s AR advancements suggest an inevitable shift towards more immersive experiences. You wondered where they were burning their cash? You just found out one place.

__ DON’T __ Underestimate. Apple’s strategic withdrawal from OpenAI’s funding is a signal—don’t assume competitors are making irrational decisions; there are deeper strategy shifts at play and a lot going on with supply chains and geopolitical decoupling.

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