One of the most highly-anticipated additions is the introduction of filters: Users can now apply creative visual effects to their videos, ranging from vibrant color schemes to artistic styles.

now you can add backgrounds and filters on video calls set the vibe and show up in new ways, it’s your call pic.twitter.com/LNVWfaKCBy

— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) October 1, 2024

There are ten filters to choose from, including options like Warm, Cool, Black & White, and Dreamy. Each one sets a different tone, allowing users to pick a filter that suits the mood of their conversation. This feature helps make video calls more engaging and visually appealing.

Another useful upgrade is the ability to change backgrounds during video calls. Users can now replace their actual surroundings with various preset scenes, helping maintain privacy or simply creating a more visually interesting call.

For example, users can appear to be sitting in a cozy living room, a bustling café, or on a serene beach. There’s also a blur option to subtly obscure the background, keeping the focus on you. With ten backgrounds to choose from, this feature ensures flexibility and privacy during calls.

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Additionally, WhatsApp now includes a Low Light mode, which enhances brightness in poorly lit environments, ensuring that your video remains clear regardless of your surroundings. This feature is especially helpful when making calls in dimly lit areas.

To access these new features, simply tap the effects icon in the top right corner of your screen during a video call. Whether you’re on a one-on-one or group call, these updates are easy to use and available in an instant.

The post WhatsApp Upgrades Video Calls With New Features: A Guide appeared first on Tech Magazine.

“This is the physical world with holograms overlaid on it,” Zuckerberg said as he slid the glasses from their metal case. Describing Orion as “a time machine” he added, “These glasses exist, they are awesome, and they are a glimpse of a future that I think is going to be pretty exciting”.

The Orion AR glasses are built from magnesium alloy and run on custom silicon chips developed by Meta. They offer users control via hand-tracking, voice commands, and a wrist-based neural interface. Zuckerberg said Meta plans to further refine the glasses, making them smaller, more affordable, and ready for mass production in the near future.

So far, sources have revealed that Meta aims to release its first consumer version of the Orion AR glasses by 2027, once the technology has become more cost-effective.

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In addition to Orion, Meta introduced a more modest mixed-reality headset called the Quest 3S, with a starting price of $300. The company also rolled out several new AI tools, including chatbot updates and the ability for Meta AI to auto-insert personalized images into Facebook and Instagram feeds. An audio upgrade also allows users to choose celebrity voices, like Judi Dench or John Cena, for the Meta AI assistant. “I think voice is going to be a way more natural way of interacting with AI than text,” Zuckerberg said.

Finally, Meta has introduced three new versions of its Llama 3 AI models. The company continues to invest billions in AI and metaverse technologies, pushing its capital expenditure forecast for 2024 to a record $37-40 billion.

The post Meta Reveals Orion AR Glasses, Offering A Glimpse Into The Future appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The upcoming feature will enable users to converse with Meta AI in real-time. Although the chat mode is still under development, current reports indicate that users will be able to choose from ten different voices for Meta AI. At present, this feature is only available on the Android version of WhatsApp. However, it is expected that iOS users will eventually be able to use the Meta AI chat mode too.

It’s important to note that even if you manage to download and install the WhatsApp beta version on your Android device, its functionality will likely be restricted, as it is currently still in the development stage. Screenshots shared by the feature tracker reveal a new voice icon in the Meta AI chat interface, represented by an audio waveform next to the text field.

Upon selecting this icon, a bottom sheet appears with “Meta AI” displayed at the top. In the center, a circular design composed of several bubbles is visible. At the bottom of the sheet, the message “Hi, how can I help?” is shown along with a larger audio waveform icon, indicating that the AI is ready to listen.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

Additional screenshots imply that the Meta AI voice mode will offer users up to ten unique voices to choose between. The differences between these voices are not yet clear, but they may vary in accents, levels of enthusiasm, or even tonal characteristics. However, it’s unlikely that any of the voices will support multiple languages on the update’s initial release.

The post WhatsApp Update Will Debut AI Voice Mode With 10 Variants appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The strategic partnership aims to boost the MENA region’s startup scene using cutting-edge AI technologies through its Llama Design Drive initiative.

The program consists of three four-week sprints that will take place across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Llama Design Drive highlights include workshops and mentorship sessions and strategic partnerships with industry thought leaders.

The program by Meta and Startupbootcamp hopes to bridge the gap between established companies and the dynamic AI startup sector. To that end, Llama Design Drive will promote the use of Meta’s open-source large language model, Llama 3.1, helping companies develop products that tackle “real-world challenges in mobility, aviation, energy distribution, retail, and real estate”.

Startups recruited into the Llama Design Drive program will get the opportunity to be fast-tracked into a global initiative sponsored by Meta and have the chance to win up to $500,000 to support future product development.

“Our program not only promotes the adoption of AI technologies to develop solutions for corporate challenges but also facilitates connections between startups, corporates, and industry experts to expand networks and gain valuable knowledge and technical skills,” explained Ibrahim “Abe” Seksek, CEO MENA at Startupbootcamp.

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“The whole world is excited to see how AI can add value to people’s lives,” added Joulan Abdul Khalek, Policy Programs Manager, Africa Middle East and Turkey at Meta. “Llama Design Drive is a great example of how open source can bring people together to co-create meaningful AI solutions. By doing so, we hope to cultivate a thriving community of tech talent across the region, working with them to unlock the potential of these exponential technologies to address real-world challenges”.

The MENA region — and the Middle East in particular — is ideally positioned for AI sector dominance, with both governments and businesses scrambling to adopt advanced technologies. In real terms, the Middle East as a whole is expected to reap 2% of the total worldwide benefits of AI by 2030, with annual growth surging to 20-34% across the region.

The post Meta & Startupbootcamp Program Will Promote MENA Startups appeared first on Tech Magazine.

AI Studio is initially rolling out to Instagram Business account holders and will be available to all Meta users in the United States within the next few weeks. The platform will be accessible via ai.meta.com/ai-studio and the Instagram app, as well as through WhatsApp, Messenger, and browsers.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, envisions users creating custom AI chatbots for entertainment purposes or as personal support tools. For instance, chatbots could be used for role-play scenarios like negotiating a pay rise or resolving a conflict with a friend. These kinds of interactions provide a safe space for users to practice and receive feedback on various social situations.

To ensure responsible use, AI Studio includes features that allow users to restrict who can interact with their chatbots and control the topics they discuss. The platform’s usage policy also explicitly prohibits the creation of chatbots deemed hateful, explicit, or illegal.

In a blog post, Meta highlighted several chatbots developed by celebrities using AI Studio. For example, chef Marc Murphy created a chatbot named “Eat Like You Live There!” to offer dining recommendations, while photographer Angel Barclay designed “What Lens Bro,” a bot providing photography tips.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

Meta’s AI Studio handbook provides guidance on customizing chatbots, allowing users to input a detailed description, choose a name, and upload an image. They can also specify how bots should respond to particular prompts. The system, leveraging Meta’s powerful Llama model, improvises responses based on these instructions.

In addition to AI Studio, Meta also introduced another innovative tool, known as Segment Anything Model (SAM) 2. The technology can identify and track the contents of images and videos, which Zuckerberg demonstrated by showcasing its ability to monitor cattle on his vast ranch in Kauai. The Facebook founder also noted that SAM2 has broader applications, such as studying coral reefs, natural habitats, and landscape changes.

The post Instagram AI Studio: Create Custom Chatbots With Your Personality appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Recently, A team from the CNC paid a high-profile visit to Facebook’s parent company, Meta, for a pivotal meeting that laid the groundwork for a collaborative partnership. During the visit, a diverse array of topics were discussed, ranging from cyberdefense challenges to the need to enhance the technological capabilities of the DRC.

One of the major outcomes of the visit was an agreement to establish a framework where Meta will provide specialized training in security and technology to enhance the skills of agents in the DRC.

The initiative underscores Meta’s commitment to boosting digital literacy in the region but also represents a major step towards empowering individuals and institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo to effectively navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

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In addition to a proposed training program, the visit facilitated an introduction to Rapidev, a group of companies specializing in electronic warfare, cyberdefense and anti-drone systems. Leveraging Rapidev’s expertise in security applications, combined with Meta’s online prowess, will enable the DRC to create innovative solutions to the country’s unique security challenges.

According to CNC head Jean-Claude Bukasa, the visit to Meta was not only successful but represented more than just a diplomatic exchange: “It symbolizes a shared commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of society. As we embark on this collaborative journey, let us seize the opportunities that lie ahead and work towards a future where innovation, security, and prosperity go hand in hand”.

The post Democratic Republic Of Congo Embarks On Meta Collaboration appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Now, Instagram head Adam Mosseri has announced a much-requested update that rectifies the issue, allowing users to delete their Threads profiles without interfering with their Instagram accounts. The update can be accessed by going to Settings > Account > Delete or Deactivate Profile. There, users can select delete to completely remove their Threads account.

Threads is also rolling out another update that gives users more control over who can view their posts across Meta’s other social platforms. Currently, posts on Threads also appear on Instagram and Facebook, but you’ll soon be able to opt out by accessing the Privacy section in the Settings menu.

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Threads has recently been criticized for excessive data collection — a concern shared by users of Meta’s other apps. Despite a record-breaking July 2023 launch that made it the fastest app to reach 100 million downloads, the platform has also struggled with user retention.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained to employees that the company was focused on improving user retention. “Obviously, if you have more than 100 million people sign up, it would be awesome if all of them or even half of them stuck around. We’re not there yet, ” he said.

The post You Can Now Delete Threads And Keep Your Instagram Account appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Now, Meta is expanding Broadcast Channels’ availability by bringing the service to Facebook and Messenger. Influencers, creators, and celebs with Facebook pages will now be able to send messages, photos, videos, and voice notes to their followers, which will appear under a tab labeled “Channels”.

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Participants will get a notification every time a page owner sends an update, but the feature can be muted at any time. Meta says admins of any page where the Broadcast Channels are accessible can start using the tool, though it isn’t available everywhere yet, so some users may need to join the waiting list.

The post Instagram’s Broadcast Channels Are Coming To Facebook appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Meta explained that you’ll still need separate phone numbers and SIM cards (or a phone that accepts dual SIMs) if you want to set up a second account. You’ll also need the second number to receive a one-time passcode via SMS to verify your second account on a different device. After the initial setup, the app will work as normal for both accounts without the second device or SIM, explained WhatsApp spokesperson Ellie Heatrick.

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The new dual account feature could be extremely useful for influencers or those with separate work and family profiles, as until now, two devices would have been required to use both accounts at the same time.

The post WhatsApp Will Soon Allow Two Account Logins At Once appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The survey highlights that the Arab world’s youth spend in excess of 3.5 hours a day on social media. Nearly 75% of users admit to struggling to disconnect from digital platforms, with 61% conceding that their mental health has suffered due to social media addiction.

Social media addiction has meant that a consensus has formed among young Arabs that big tech companies — such as Meta, Google, and X — hold “too much power”. Over 90% of respondents also think these companies are not doing enough to combat disinformation.

Another trend revealed by the survey is that a significant percentage of respondents (13%) aspire to be “social media influencers” rather than taking up careers in typically prestigious fields such as medicine or engineering.

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Despite the increasing time and energy spent on social media platforms, nearly 60% of Arab Youth say traditional social experiences such as “eating out” and “hanging out with friends” are defining elements of their lifestyles. The findings suggest that even in the digital age, in-person social experiences remain important.

The Arab Youth’s growing dependence on social media is concerning and is clearly impacting mental health. As the region battles with high levels of youth unemployment, the findings of the ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey call for a rethink of the role technology plays in the lives of young people and its impact on their future.

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