At Meta Connect 2026, CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta's new core strategy focusing on its personal AI agent, Muse. Positioned as a "personal superintelligence," Muse was central to almost every product and announcement unveiled during the brief keynote. Zuckerberg expressed an expectation for Muse to be utilized by billions globally, with new hardware developments explicitly linked to this AI agent. This indicates Meta's strong commitment to personal AI and the devices designed to carry it forward.
Significantly, the Metaverse received minimal attention at this year's keynote, a stark contrast to previous events. Meta, having renamed itself in 2021 to champion shared virtual worlds, has since incurred an estimated $80 billion in losses through its Reality Labs division. Instead of virtual reality portals, new slimmer VR glasses were presented for consuming entertainment like movies, games, and live sports. This shift signals that Meta's original vision for the Metaverse, its namesake, is no longer the primary focus.