Meta has launched a new generation of smart glasses and wearable AI tools, including the first mainstream Ray-Ban smart glasses with an in-lens display and a Neural Band that lets users control digital content with tiny hand gestures.

Zuckerberg Reveals the New Line-Up at Meta Connect

The announcement was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the company’s recent (annual Meta) Connect conference, at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters in California. In front of a live audience, he introduced three new smart glasses models alongside the debut of the Meta Neural Band, a wrist-worn controller designed to detect electrical signals from the forearm and translate them into digital inputs.

According to Zuckerberg, the technology represents a “huge scientific breakthrough” and forms a key part of Meta’s strategy to embed AI into wearable devices. The new glasses are powered by Meta AI, the company’s voice-activated assistant, and are designed to bring augmented reality (AR) features to everyday eyewear.

Three New Models With Different Uses in Mind

The headline product is the Meta Ray-Ban Display, priced at $799 (£585), which features a colour display embedded into the right lens. This allows users to see WhatsApp messages, view live video calls, and access real-time information such as captions, translations, or walking directions directly in their line of sight. A 12-megapixel front-facing camera enables photos and video recording, and a microphone and speaker system support voice calls and Meta AI commands.

Also announced were the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, retailing at $499 (£390), aimed at sports and outdoor users. These include an ultrawide camera, a rugged waterproof design (IP67-rated), and integration with fitness tracking services like Strava and Garmin. Finally, Meta also launched the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) glasses for $379 (£295), which have a more classic design while adding better cameras, extended battery life, and upgraded video features such as slow-motion and hyperlapse recording.

All three models are essentially being positioned as steps towards a more immersive and hands-free computing experience, thereby removing the need for users to constantly check phones or carry separate devices.

The Neural Band (Replacing the Keyboard With Your Hand)

What makes this release particularly notable is the integration of the Meta Neural Band, a wearable bracelet that detects subtle hand gestures using electromyography (EMG). EMG reads the small electrical impulses generated by muscle movement. In Meta’s case, this translates to pinches, taps, swipes, and even drawing letters on the user’s leg or desk to send text messages, no screen or keyboard needed.

The Neural Band allows users to control the glasses without even touching them, thanks to AI models trained to recognise specific gestures and context. For example, swiping a thumb across the index finger can scroll menus, while tapping fingers together can wake or sleep the display. There is also a double-thumb tap gesture to activate Meta AI without saying its wake word.

Meta says the Neural Band will initially only be sold in the US due to the need for in-store wrist fitting. It will roll out to other markets, including the UK, in early 2026.

Meta’s Long-Term AI Hardware Ambitions

This latest release highlights Meta’s growing focus on AI hardware, with Zuckerberg stating earlier this year that the company intends to spend “hundreds of billions” on AI infrastructure and data centres in pursuit of what he calls “personal superintelligence”.

The new glasses are part of a broader strategy to create everyday devices that blend AI with human senses. In a July earnings call, Zuckerberg said he believes smart glasses will become so important that “people who don’t wear them will be at a significant cognitive disadvantage.”

Meta has sold around two million smart glasses since its partnership with Ray-Ban began in 2023, though it does not disclose exact figures. With the addition of display features, Meta is hoping to create a more compelling reason for wider adoption.

What Can They Do?

In terms of functionality, the Ray-Ban Display allows users to view content such as messages, calls, maps, or translations overlaid on the real world. For example, during a walk, the glasses can provide turn-by-turn directions without needing to check a phone. Similarly, when in conversation with someone speaking another language, the glasses can show translated captions live on the lens.

Voice remains a key interface, but Meta now believes combining visual and gesture controls will significantly enhance the user experience. The glasses are powered by Meta’s own large language models, and the company claims performance is improving rapidly with each update.

The Oakley Meta Vanguard model is clearly targeted at fitness and sports users. As such, it can automatically capture moments during activities like cycling or skiing, using sensor data to determine milestones such as speed or altitude reached. Also, after an activity, users can overlay stats from Garmin or Strava onto videos or photos.

Awkward Launch

Despite the ambition, the launch has not been without glitches. For example, during the live demo, Zuckerberg struggled to place a WhatsApp call using the glasses, telling the audience: “I don’t know what to tell you guys. I keep on messing this up.”

There also appears to be some limitations in functionality. For example, at launch, Spotify integration will only support playback controls and track display. Instagram use is limited to Reels and direct messages. Meta says more features will roll out in software updates.

Comfort and accessibility are other factors where there may be some issues. There have been reports that the display works well when viewed through one eye but reading it with both eyes can feel disorientating. Meta says the experience takes some getting used to.

Privacy, Safety and Scrutiny

Not surprisingly, there have been some questions raised about safety, privacy, and the impact on younger users. The glasses include a small LED to alert others when the camera is recording, but critics say more robust protections may be needed.

Also, on the same day as the launch, protests took place outside Meta’s New York headquarters. Campaigners, including parents of children who died by suicide, demanded greater protections for minors across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and its VR products. Meta denies accusations of negligence, calling them “nonsense.”

Earlier testimony from two former safety researchers accused the company of suppressing internal studies on potential harm to children. While unrelated to the glasses directly, this scrutiny continues to shadow Meta’s broader product ecosystem.

Competition

Meta’s bet on smart glasses puts it in direct competition with other tech giants exploring wearable AI, including Apple and Google. For example, Google previously attempted a heads-up display with Google Glass, which failed to gain traction. It seems Meta is now trying to succeed where others fell short by integrating AI and voice in a more consumer-friendly format.

According to Forrester analyst Mike Proulx, “Unlike VR headsets, glasses are an everyday, non-cumbersome form factor,” but he added that Meta must still “convince the vast majority of people who don’t own AI glasses that the benefits outweigh the cost.”

Meta has already invested around $3.5 billion in eyewear brand EssilorLuxottica, which owns Ray-Ban and Oakley. This suggests a long-term commitment to making smart glasses a central platform for AI integration.

Business adoption also seems to remain a bit of an open question. For example, the hands-free and real-time capabilities of the glasses could appeal to sectors such as logistics, field service, or retail, where instant access to information can improve productivity. However, questions around price, practicality, and security may limit short-term uptake.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Practical use cases will likely determine how quickly these devices gain ground, particularly in business settings. In sectors where on-the-go access to visual data and communication tools is critical, such as warehousing, technical services, healthcare, or even frontline retail, Meta’s smart glasses could actually offer a viable alternative to phones or tablets. Being able to receive instructions, translate conversations, or log information using only hand gestures or voice commands could reduce friction, speed up workflows, and create safer, more efficient environments. UK businesses in particular may find opportunities here, especially where hands-free communication or multilingual interaction is valuable.

At the same time, concerns around user privacy, data collection, and digital wellbeing are not going away. The Neural Band introduces a level of biometric input that, while technically impressive, may prompt further debate around consent, surveillance, and data ethics. These are especially sensitive issues for organisations operating in regulated environments, or those managing public-facing staff.

Meta’s heavy investment in AI hardware signals a longer-term ambition to dominate wearable computing, but it also raises the stakes. If the technology fails to deliver clear value or gain mainstream traction, the company could face pressure over its direction and spending. Likewise, businesses considering adoption will need to assess not just functionality, but also durability, support, integration with existing systems, and long-term viability.

The glasses may well become more than a consumer gadget. If Meta can refine the experience, prove the use cases, and address lingering trust issues, the products unveiled this month could mark an early step towards a wider transformation in how people interact with digital tools, and how AI becomes embedded in daily professional life.

A new AI-powered hacking tool called ‘Villager’ is being used by attackers to automate complex cyberattacks, researchers have warned.

Developed by China-based group Cyberspike, Villager mimics legitimate penetration testing tools but uses AI to adapt attacks in real time. It runs on Kali Linux, is powered by DeepSeek v3, and has been downloaded over 10,000 times since July 2025.

Unlike older tools like Cobalt Strike, Villager can exploit vulnerabilities based on natural language prompts, detect a target’s setup, and select the most effective method of attack. It creates temporary containers that delete themselves after 24 hours to avoid detection.

Researchers say this dramatically lowers the skill level required to carry out advanced attacks, making it easier for inexperienced hackers to breach systems and establish persistence.

Businesses can protect themselves by patching known vulnerabilities, using strong endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, and monitoring for suspicious automated activity, especially container-based processes.

A plant-based sachet developed by two young Ugandan entrepreneurs could dramatically cut post-harvest food loss, improve farmer incomes, and support global sustainability goals.

Tackling a Problem Rooted in Waste and Inequality

Every year, more than 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted worldwide, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Much of this loss occurs before food even reaches consumers. For smallholder farmers in countries like Uganda, rapid fruit spoilage during transport and storage often leads to devastating losses and missed income. At the same time, hundreds of millions of people remain food insecure, creating a stark global imbalance between surplus and scarcity.

First-Hand Experience of the Inventors

One of the main drivers behind the invention came from the co-founders’ own lived experience. Both Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita grew up in farming families and saw how often fresh produce would spoil before reaching market, largely due to a lack of refrigeration and poor infrastructure. That direct exposure to post-harvest loss led them to develop the simple (but science-led) solution of a small sachet that sits inside fruit crates and gradually releases natural plant compounds to slow spoilage and extend shelf life

Karpolax

Karpolax, Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita’s company, based in Kampala, Uganda, was founded in 2020. The company’s core product is the biodegradable sachet that extends the shelf life of fruit by up to 30 days.

How Does The Sachet Work?

Rather than using synthetic preservatives, the sachet contains natural volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extracted from plants such as cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and wintergreen.

These compounds are gradually released during storage and transport, forming a protective atmosphere inside packaging boxes. The vapours inhibit ethylene production (a key trigger for ripening) and suppress the enzyme phospholipase D, which contributes to cellular breakdown in fruit. The sachets also have antimicrobial properties, reducing mould and bacterial contamination without refrigeration.

Tripled The Shelf Life

In a pilot with Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation, mangoes stored with Karpolax sachets stayed fresh for 33 days, which is triple the 11-day shelf life of untreated fruit. The company has since tested the product on bananas, apples and oranges, and is developing new variants for pineapples, berries and peppers.

Recognised Innovation With a Social Mission

Karpolax was recently named a top-10 innovator in the European Patent Office’s 2025 Young Inventors Prize, recognised under the “Community Healers” category. The award celebrates under-30 inventors using technology to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The company has already supplied over 100 farmers, 250 market vendors and 20 produce exporters in Uganda. Expansion is also planned across East Africa, including to Kenya and Rwanda, where post-harvest losses are similarly high. According to the UN, up to 45 per cent of fruit and vegetables perish before sale in sub-Saharan Africa due to a lack of cold storage and poor market access.

“Our goal was never just to invent something,” said Namboozo. “It was to make science work for the communities we come from.”

Potential Impact on Global Supply Chains

Although Karpolax was created with low-resource regions in mind, its relevance extends far beyond Uganda. For example, the World Bank estimates that halving food loss could feed an additional one billion people. It could also significantly reduce emissions, as food waste contributes 8–10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The sachets offer a low-cost, non-electric alternative to cold storage, which is often unaffordable or unavailable in rural areas. However, they may also appeal to exporters, wholesalers, and large retailers in wealthier markets. With growing pressure to meet ESG targets and reduce environmental impact, businesses in the UK and EU could benefit from solutions like Karpolax, especially those sourcing tropical fruits from African or Asian suppliers.

For example, large-scale importers or distributors could use the sachets during long-haul shipping, improving quality at arrival and reducing wastage costs. NGOs and agribusinesses working in sustainable development or supply chain resilience may also view the technology as a practical tool for smallholder empowerment.

Not Without Challenges

Despite its promise, Karpolax faces several hurdles. Like many start-ups in developing countries, access to funding is limited. Muyita has highlighted how early-stage support came from university mentors and competitions. Scaling manufacturing capacity and meeting regulatory standards in export markets will require further investment and strategic partnerships.

There is also a need for independent third-party verification of long-term results, especially under varying climatic and logistical conditions. While internal trials and national pilots show strong early outcomes, widespread adoption may hinge on building trust with new stakeholders, both in Africa and abroad.

Another challenge lies in market education. For example, many smallholder farmers and informal traders are unfamiliar with post-harvest tech, so uptake may depend on targeted awareness campaigns and training support.

A Broader Movement Toward Natural Preservation

It should be noted, however, that Karpolax is not alone in this space. For example, in India, a start-up called GreenPod Labs has developed a similar solution using plant-derived sachets that release active compounds to slow ripening. Their product is aimed at Indian fruits such as guava and papaya and also targets farm-to-market spoilage. Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Guelph in Canada have been exploring natural VOC coatings to prolong shelf life of berries and tomatoes.

Other approaches to reducing spoilage include smart packaging, such as labels that change colour when fruit begins to spoil, or biodegradable wraps that mimic the protective qualities of natural peels. However, many of these are still in R&D phases or face high production costs, limiting access in developing regions.

What sets Karpolax apart is its grounding in local knowledge, use of indigenous plant chemistry, and low-cost manufacturing. One key advantage of the sachets is that they don’t require any behavioural change from farmers, i.e. they simply sit in the box and do their job.

Good for Farmers, Businesses and the Planet

For smallholder farmers, especially in Uganda, the benefits are likely to be immediate. For example, by reducing post-harvest loss, farmers gain more time to sell, access better prices, and reinvest in their operations. This is particularly meaningful for women and young people, who make up a large share of the agricultural workforce in the region.

For businesses, the sachets offer a scalable and environmentally sound solution to the long-standing logistical problem of keeping produce fresh in transit. As climate change brings more volatility to food systems, supply chain resilience is becoming a higher priority for food companies and retailers.

Also, for sustainability goals, Karpolax supports several core UN targets, not just Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption, but also Climate Action and Decent Work. It could, therefore, be described as a case of locally developed, science-based innovation with global relevance.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

Karpolax’s innovation arrives at a time when both the environmental and economic costs of food waste are under closer scrutiny. A simple, passive preservation tool that extends shelf life by weeks rather than days offers a clear advantage not just in Uganda but across global supply chains. For growers, especially in regions without reliable refrigeration, it means less spoilage and more time to secure better prices. For exporters and logistics firms, it introduces a low-tech, low-cost buffer against delays, contamination and inconsistent storage conditions.

UK businesses operating in import, retail or agri-tech should also take note. As ESG pressures rise and the need for traceable, responsible sourcing grows, solutions like this provide a tangible opportunity to partner with early-stage but high-potential sustainability innovators. Whether as part of ethical sourcing strategies, international aid-linked supply chains, or fresh produce logistics, the commercial use cases are growing. There is also a reputational advantage in being aligned with technologies that promote climate resilience, zero waste and smallholder empowerment.

Still, longer-term success depends on scale, regulation, and proof. Karpolax will need to show that the technology remains effective under broader commercial conditions and that its cost advantage is maintained as production ramps up. The market is also competitive, with similar plant-based sachets and smart packaging tools under development elsewhere. What may give Karpolax an edge is its grounding in real-world problems, its use of local plant chemistry, and its focus on ease of use in resource-limited settings.

For sustainability advocates, this is one of the more promising types of innovation, i.e., low-cost, scalable, and directly aligned with everyday challenges. For farmers, it offers a rare form of control over a process they have often been excluded from. For wider industry, it’s a reminder that some of the most practical solutions may not come from labs in the Global North, but from the people who live and work at the heart of the problem.

Finding files in Windows hasn’t always been that easy but now that’s changed with the new search feature from CoPilot. This short video explains how to use it and then you’ll wonder how you lived without it!

[Note – To Watch This Video without glitches/interruptions, It may be best to download it first]

Protect your sensitive conversations with WhatsApp’s Chat Lock feature, adding an extra layer of security and privacy to your chats.

– Open the chat you want to lock by tapping on it.
– Tap the three dots (⋮) at the top right of the chat screen.
– Select “Lock Chat” to move the conversation to a protected folder.
– Access locked chats using your device’s authentication (fingerprint, face recognition, or passcode) or a secret code.

This feature ensures that confidential business discussions remain protected and accessible only to authorised individuals.

New EU rules on who can access and share data from connected products and cloud services are now live, with major implications for UK firms selling into the bloc.

What Is the EU Data Act?

The EU Data Act is a sweeping piece of digital legislation designed to reshape how data is accessed, shared, and transferred across the European Union. Proposed in February 2022 and adopted in late 2023, it formally came into force on 11 January 2024. Its main provisions, however, only became applicable from 12 September 2025, marking a major shift in Europe’s digital policy landscape.

The Focus

The law’s focus is on non-personal data, particularly that generated by connected devices, such as smart fridges, cars, factory machinery, wearable tech (and suchlike), and the digital services linked to them. It aims to ensure that users, whether individuals or businesses, can access the data generated by their devices and services, and share it with third parties, if they choose.

Its introduction forms part of the EU’s wider strategy to build a fair, innovative, and competitive data economy. It also addresses longstanding concerns over vendor lock-in, contractual imbalances, and a lack of transparency, especially in the cloud computing market.

Why the EU Introduced It

The European Commission has made clear its ambition to create a “single market for data.” With the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), vast volumes of data are being produced but often remain locked within platforms controlled by manufacturers or service providers.

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton described the regulation as “a landmark in Europe’s digital decade,” saying it would ensure that “data is fairly shared, stored, and used, and that users have access to the value they help create.”

According to Commission estimates, the volume of industrial data in the EU is expected to increase fivefold between 2018 and 2030. The aim is to open up this data to support innovation across sectors, particularly for small businesses and the public sector.

Who It Applies To and Why UK Businesses Should Pay Attention

Although the Data Act is EU legislation, it has extraterritorial effect, i.e. UK companies can still fall within its scope if they:

– Sell connected products or provide related digital services to users in the EU.

– Offer cloud, edge, or data processing services (such as SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS) to EU-based customers.

– Hold or process non-personal data generated by EU users.

In short, any UK business that interacts with EU clients through connected products or cloud services may need to comply.

Which Are Affected Sectors?

The affected sectors are broad and include:

– Manufacturing (especially smart machinery and industrial equipment).

– Agriculture (IoT-enabled farming tools).

– Transport and logistics (connected vehicles, telematics/vehicle data tracking).

– Consumer tech (smart home devices, wearables).

– Cloud and SaaS providers.

– Facility and building management (smart meters, BMS systems).

What Just Came into Force on 12 September 2025?

From 12 September, many of the Act’s central provisions are now legally applicable across the EU, including:

– The right to access data. Users of connected devices, whether consumers or businesses, can request access to the data those products generate, free of charge and in a usable format.

– The right to share data. Users can also request that their data be shared with a third party of their choice, such as an independent repair provider or external analytics service.

– Fair contract rules. Contracts involving data access or sharing must not include unfair terms. The burden of proof lies with the data holder, who must demonstrate that the terms are fair and non-discriminatory.

– Cloud switching rights. Providers of data processing services must allow customers to switch to another provider more easily. This includes setting out clear porting terms and providing transparency around fees and procedures.

More Dates to Watch

While 12 September 2025 marks the beginning of formal obligations, businesses should also take note of two other key upcoming milestones:

– 12 September 2026. All new connected products placed on the EU market from this date must be designed to enable user access to the data they generate. This introduces a new “data access by design” requirement.

– 12 January 2027. Cloud providers will generally be banned from charging switching or data extraction (egress) fees, unless they can justify those charges objectively. This is likely to reshape the EU cloud market, which has faced repeated criticism over anti-competitive fee structures.

What UK Businesses Should Do Now

UK businesses that are affected need to take the following steps to comply:

– Assess applicability. First, determine whether the business sells connected products or offers relevant digital services within the EU. It is also vital to understand whether the data processed meets the definition of non-personal data generated through usage.

– Map data flows. A clear inventory of data flows is essential, i.e. what data is generated, who generates it, where it is stored, and how it is used or shared. This includes understanding which parties hold what rights over the data.

– Review contracts. Data sharing agreements and cloud service contracts must be updated to reflect new user rights. Any clauses that could be considered unfair, restrictive, or non-transparent may need to be removed or revised to ensure compliance.

– Build access infrastructure. Technical systems must allow users and authorised third parties to access data securely, quickly, and in machine-readable formats. Businesses should also start planning now for September 2026, when connected products must be built with user access in mind.

– Clarify cloud terms. Cloud providers must publish clear switching procedures, exit timelines, and any related fees. Some have already acted. Google Cloud, for example, announced it would waive egress fees to support compliance with the new rules.

– Protect trade secrets. Where businesses have a legitimate reason (e.g. the protection of trade secrets or user safety), they may refuse to share certain data. However, such refusals must be properly justified, and documented procedures should be in place.

– Penalties and Enforcement. Each EU member state is required to appoint a national regulator to enforce the rules. These authorities will have the power to investigate and impose penalties on businesses that fail to comply. The exact penalty levels vary by country, but the Act specifies that enforcement must be “effective, proportionate and dissuasive.” For larger organisations with complex operations, this could mean significant exposure if non-compliance is discovered.

Businesses are also required to keep records demonstrating how they comply with the Act. To support implementation, the European Commission has published model contract clauses and launched a dedicated Data Act Legal Helpdesk for practical support.

Criticism and Challenges

While the Act has been broadly welcomed as a long-overdue update to Europe’s fragmented data landscape, it will come as no surprise that it has not escaped criticism.

For example, some industry voices argue that compliance will be costly, particularly for small businesses that may lack the resources to adapt infrastructure and contracts at pace.

Others have raised concerns about cybersecurity and intellectual property. The ability for third parties to access usage data, even with safeguards in place, has prompted questions about how effectively sensitive information can be protected.

Concerns have also been raised about uneven enforcement. For example, as each EU country sets up its own supervisory regime, multinational businesses may face inconsistency in how the rules are applied or interpreted.

That said, supporters appear to believe that these are reasonable trade-offs in building a more equitable and open data economy. As the European Commission noted in its official guidance, “The Data Act provides a horizontal framework for unlocking data value, while protecting rights and ensuring fairness in the data-driven economy.”

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For UK companies operating in the EU, the immediate priority is to ensure contracts, systems and internal processes reflect the new rights granted to users. This is particularly relevant for manufacturers of connected products and providers of cloud, edge and data processing services. Organisations that fail to prepare could face compliance risks, contractual disputes or even restricted access to key EU markets.

Those that act early may be better positioned to compete. Building in user data access, transparency and portability could strengthen customer relationships and support future product development. For cloud providers, the pressure to enable smooth switching and eliminate unreasonable fees will only increase as the 2027 deadline approaches.

Beyond UK businesses, the regulation is likely to affect a broad range of stakeholders. Public sector bodies may benefit from greater access to data for emergency response and infrastructure planning. Smaller firms across the EU could gain new opportunities by accessing usage data that was previously unavailable to them. At the same time, larger players may face greater scrutiny over how they manage contractual fairness and protect trade secrets.

While enforcement consistency remains a concern, the main message is that any business interacting with EU customers through connected products or cloud services will need to align with these rules. The next key dates are already set. Those preparing now will be in a stronger position to meet them, reduce legal risk, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital market.