Some Meta employees received a message on Tuesday night directing them to work remotely on Wednesday, two sources who received the email told Business Insider. Employees in Meta's wearables and ads divisions got the notes, said the two sources. The short HR email said leadership would share more information.Meta's wearables unit, which includes AI glasses and its augmented reality business, is one of the company's "several key investment areas" for 2026, per its latest earnings report. A spokesperson for M ...

Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth will lead the company’s efforts to adopt artificial intelligence tools throughout its workforce.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.Bosworth said in a Tuesd ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms is officially shutting down its VR metaverse, Horizon Worlds, and is pivoting towards artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and products, particularly AI glasses, which saw a significant sales increase in 2025 [1][2] Group 1: Financial Performance and Strategy - Meta Platforms reported a loss of $19.2 billion for Reality Labs in 2025, with Q4 revenue of only $955 million, prompting a shift in focus towards AI [1] - The company plans to increase capital expenditures to $115-$135 billion in 2026, up from $69.7 billion in 2025, indicating a major reallocation of resources towards AI [1] - The advertising business generated $200.97 billion in revenue for the full year 2025, with ad impressions increasing by 18% year-over-year in Q4 [1] Group 2: AI Infrastructure and Partnerships - Meta signed a $27 billion five-year revenue deal with Nebius to deploy NVIDIA GPUs starting in 2027, and a $6 billion multiyear partnership with Corning for optical fiber solutions [1] - The company aims to build its own AI compute stack rather than relying on external resources, reflecting a long-term commitment to AI infrastructure [1] Group 3: Product Development and Market Position - Meta's AI glasses sales tripled in 2025, and the company is opening a flagship retail store in New York City to showcase these products [1] - The AI initiative has already reached nearly 1 billion monthly active users as of Q1 2025, providing a competitive advantage in the AI market [1] Group 4: Analyst Sentiment - The analyst community is largely bullish on Meta, with a consensus price target of $862.25 and only a few Hold ratings among 62 analysts, indicating strong confidence in the company's future [1]

Core Insights - Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) has secured a 10-year lease with Meta for its first flagship retail location in Manhattan at 697 Fifth Avenue, a 15,000-square-foot townhouse building [1][7] - The Meta Lab is designed as an experiential retail space that emphasizes community, culture, and creative self-expression, showcasing Meta's AI glasses and virtual reality headsets [2][7] - The lease highlights Vornado's successful diversification into premium retail spaces and indicates strong demand for its prime Manhattan assets [4] Company Overview - Vornado Realty Trust focuses on high-quality assets and aims to expand its market share in the New York City office market, with significant properties in San Francisco and Chicago [5] - The company has experienced an 11.3% decline in shares over the past month, compared to a 3.6% decline in the industry [5] Market Context - The successful introduction of Meta Lab during its pop-up phase demonstrates the attractiveness of Fifth Avenue as a retail corridor for innovative brands [3] - The long-term lease with a high-profile tenant like Meta strengthens Vornado's outlook and reflects the demand for premium retail locations in Manhattan [4]

Core Insights - Meta has signed a 10-year lease to establish its Meta Lab at 697 Fifth Ave. as a permanent flagship store, transitioning from a pop-up location that opened in November [1][4] - The flagship store will showcase Meta's AI glasses and virtual reality products, designed to provide an interactive experience for visitors [2][8] Group 1: Store Features and Design - The Meta Lab is designed as a hands-on retail space where visitors can try the latest AI glasses and immerse themselves in virtual worlds with Meta Quest [2] - The store incorporates local culture, featuring installations related to New York's skate scene and partnerships with local artists, including a coffee bar serving Buddies Coffee Roasters drinks [7][8] - The flagship includes an archival wall and timeline developed with Zoo York, a mural from Zered Bassett's "Paper Skaters" series, and an interactive gallery from Evan Mock [7] Group 2: Market Context and Expansion - Meta's decision to open a flagship store in New York reflects a commitment to physical retail, despite recent layoffs and a streamlined office presence in the city [10][11] - The Manhattan flagship is part of a broader expansion of Meta Labs, which includes locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Honolulu, and Burlingame, California, driven by strong demand for in-person product demonstrations [8]

Core Insights - Meta has signed a 10-year lease for its flagship retail location, Meta Lab, at 697 Fifth Avenue, New York, occupying a 15,000-square-foot townhouse building [1] - This marks Meta's first flagship store in Manhattan, following its initial flagship store in Los Angeles in 2025 [1] Company Overview - Meta Lab is designed as an experiential retail space that emphasizes community, culture, and creative self-expression, allowing visitors to engage with Meta's AI glasses and virtual reality headsets [2] - The design of each Meta Lab location is influenced by its neighborhood and co-created with local artists, fostering an authentic and welcoming environment [2] Strategic Commitment - Meta's VP and Creative Director highlighted the importance of Fifth Avenue as a premier retail location, stating that the flagship store will differentiate itself from traditional consumer electronics retail [3] - Meta has a long-standing presence in New York City, having invested significantly since 2007, including leasing 730,000 square feet at The Farley Building for its headquarters [3] Real Estate Context - Vornado Realty Trust, the landlord for Meta Lab, manages a 26 million square-foot portfolio of premier assets in New York City and is recognized for its sustainability efforts [4] - Vornado's Executive VP noted the attractiveness of Fifth Avenue for innovative brands, emphasizing the successful introduction of Meta Lab during its pop-up phase [3]

NEW YORK, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO) today announced the New York flagship location for Meta Lab at 697 Fifth Avenue. Meta signed a 10-year lease agreement with Vornado for Meta Lab New York to occupy the entire five-level, 15,000-square-foot townhouse building adjacent to the base of the St. Regis Hotel. This marks the first flagship retail location for Meta in Manhattan, following its initial flagship store opening in Los Angeles in 2025. Meta Lab is a people-first ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple CEO Tim Cook has dismissed rumors regarding his retirement, emphasizing his commitment to the company and his enjoyment of his role [2][3]. Group 1: Leadership and Management - Tim Cook stated that he has not indicated any plans to step down, expressing his deep love for his work at Apple since joining 28 years ago [2]. - Recent executive departures, including the AI chief, top lawyer, and a key design executive, have raised questions about Cook's leadership style in the context of the evolving artificial intelligence landscape [3]. Group 2: Company Developments - Apple is approaching its 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026, which is a significant milestone for the company [3]. - The company is anticipated to launch its first foldable iPhone and AI glasses within the year, alongside efforts to improve the Siri experience that was not delivered in 2025 [4].

Summary of Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) - **Stock Code**: 601231.SS - **Market Cap**: Rmb93,414 million (US$13,599 million) [6][9] Core Industry Insights - **Industry Focus**: Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS), specifically in AI and optics technologies - **Key Technologies**: ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), AI glass, Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Key Points and Arguments Financial Performance and Projections - **Target Price**: Rmb51, indicating a potential upside of 30.4% from the current price of Rmb39.1 [6][9] - **Earnings Forecast**: - 2023A: Net Profit of Rmb1,948 million, EPS of Rmb0.882 - 2024A: Net Profit of Rmb1,652 million, EPS of Rmb0.747 - 2025E: Net Profit of Rmb1,853 million, EPS of Rmb0.843 - 2026E: Net Profit of Rmb2,219 million, EPS of Rmb1.008 - 2027E: Net Profit of Rmb4,165 million, EPS of Rmb1.892, representing an 87.7% growth [5][9] Growth Drivers - **AI Accelerator L6 Assembly**: Expected to be a key driver in 2026-27, with potential revenue generation of Rmb4.6 billion in 2026, growing to Rmb9.7 billion by 2028, indicating a CAGR of 277% [11][31] - **Optical Transceivers**: Anticipated shipments of 800G transceivers starting in 1H26, contributing Rmb2.6 billion in 2026, Rmb9.8 billion in 2027, and Rmb13.6 billion in 2028 [12][47] - **CPO Technology**: Expected to become a multi-year growth engine from 2027, with significant advantages in power consumption and efficiency over traditional DSP-based modules [51][52] Market Position and Competitive Edge - **Market Share Gains**: USI is projected to increase its share in key projects, such as the Trainium NIC chip, from 20% to 30% by 2026 [2][11] - **Vertical Integration**: Leveraging synergies with parent company ASE and acquired Eugenlight to enhance capabilities in optical components and AI technologies [1][34] Risks and Challenges - **Market Risks**: Potential shortfalls in AI demand, slower-than-expected CPO adoption, supply chain disruptions, and intense competition in consumer electronics [17] - **Currency Fluctuations**: A strengthening yuan could increase export costs, while depreciation might inflate imported material expenses, impacting profit margins [17] Strategic Initiatives - **Capacity Expansion**: Plans to expand optical transceiver capacity to 100k units/month by mid-2026, with potential to double based on demand [45] - **Acquisition of Eugenlight**: Completed in January 2026, enhancing USI's capabilities in optical interconnect solutions and expected to drive significant revenue growth [34][39] Investment Thesis - **Recommendation**: Initiate coverage with a Buy rating based on strong growth potential in AI and optics, supported by robust financial projections and strategic positioning within the industry [1][15] Additional Insights - **Consumer Electronics**: AI glass is expected to contribute significantly to revenue, with projections of Rmb4.1 billion in 2026, growing to Rmb10.1 billion by 2028 [14] - **Long-term Outlook**: The cloud and storage business unit's revenue is expected to reach Rmb31.7 billion by 2028, indicating a 73% CAGR from Rmb6.1 billion in 2025 [20] This summary encapsulates the critical insights and projections regarding Universal Scientific Industrial, highlighting its strategic initiatives, growth drivers, and potential risks within the electronic manufacturing services industry.

Industry Overview - The technology sector is experiencing mixed price action, driven by significant investments in response to global artificial intelligence (AI) demand, with a McKinsey report projecting a need for a $5.2 trillion investment in data centers by 2030 [1] - Despite the skepticism in the markets regarding these investments, it presents an opportunity for investors to enter innovation-driven tech companies like Meta Platforms [2] Company Insights - Meta Platforms has recently established an AI engineering organization to enhance its superintelligence efforts, collaborating with its Superintelligence Lab to develop a data engine for improving AI models [3] - The company is expanding beyond traditional 2D screens, focusing on AI-driven innovations that could unlock significant value, including products like Meta Quest devices and AI glasses [4] - As of December 2025, Meta reported 3.58 billion daily active users across its apps, indicating a strong global presence [5] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2025, Meta reported total revenue of $201 billion, with advertising revenue being the primary growth driver at $196.2 billion, while Reality Labs contributed $2.2 billion [6] - The company achieved a sales growth of 22% year-over-year for fiscal 2025, supported by an increase in daily active users and revenue per person [7] - Despite a 13% decline in META stock over the past six months and a 1% year-to-date decrease, the current market correction is viewed as a potential accumulation opportunity, especially as Meta increases its investment in AI-driven growth [7]