that's so meta

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Zuckerberg doubles down on AI, the Metaverse, and…glasses?

A billionaire, developers, and tech nerds walk into a Meta event — and this isn’t a joke 🤓 

Last week, Meta held Meta Connect 2024, a developer-centric event for showcasing the company's new tech (hardware and software). And, of course, featured a keynote from Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

Here’s the lowdown from the event:

• New AR glasses are on the way…kinda. Meta revealed Orion, its “first consumer full holographic AR glasses” that have been about 10 years in the making. For now, they’re giving Orion glasses to a select few as they fine-tune the product for consumers

• Meta AI found its voice. Users can now talk to Meta AI with their voices and get a spoken response. That’s pretty cool, but it begs the question: Who is using Meta AI?

• Headset-heads rejoice! Been coveting a mixed-reality headset? The team unveiled the Meta Quest 3S — a less expensive alternative to the Meta Quest 3 headset — at a starting price of $299.

• Ray-Ban’s Meta smart glasses are getting real-time video AI video capabilities, reminders via Meta AI, integrations with Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart, and the ability to scan QR codes. And you can get them with a new range of Transitions lenses which is (IMHO) the most practical feature.

• Oh boy, it’ll be even easier to generate AI content on Facebook and Instagram now! New updates will let users create AI-generated images and captions directly to their feed.

And, finally, Zuckerberg wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with the Latin phrase “aut Zuck aut nihil,” meaning “all Zuck or all nothing.” This is a play on the saying “aut Caesar aut nihil” (All Caesar or nothing), because apparently Marky-boy is really into the Roman Empire.

What do you think of these announcements from Meta Connect? Anything you’re excited about?

This is not your average HR interview training (and that’s a good thing)

Let’s dish 🤭

Move over, Moo Deng

It’s a battle of cute animals on the internet right now and the kicker is that everyone wins.

In case you missed it, pygmy hippo Moo Deng has been all over our feeds (and in our hearts) for a couple of weeks. She’s cute, she’s shiny, she is the moment.

Moo Deng has inspired countless memes and even has a new crypto memecoin named after her.

But have you met Certified Big Boi, Pesto?

Pesto is a nine-month-old king penguin at Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium who has gained internet fame for being freaking HUGE. When he hatched, he was a teeny 7oz chick. Just nine months later, Pesto weighs in at 50lbs — the biggest chick the museum has ever seen.

Don’t worry, though. Pesto is perfectly healthy and will soon shed his fluff (both feathers and weight) as he matures.

In the meantime, take a moment to appreciate this absolute unit of a penguin.

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