Meta to Launch First Smartwatch This Year

Meta Platforms Inc. is preparing to launch its first smartwatch later this year, reviving a previously shelved project amid a surge in artificial intelligence-driven wearables.

The device, internally codenamed Malibu 2, will include health and fitness tracking capabilities similar to those on established models, along with a built-in Meta AI assistant, according to people familiar with the matter. It aims to complement Meta's existing lineup of smart glasses, particularly the Ray-Ban Meta models, by enhancing gesture-based controls and overall functionality. The smartwatch could integrate with Meta's neural band technology, which uses electromyography to detect subtle wrist movements and translate them into commands, potentially expanding beyond its current limitation to glasses alone.

Meta first explored a smartwatch around 2021, with early concepts featuring onboard cameras in multiple variations. However, the company halted development in 2022 as part of cost-cutting measures in its Reality Labs division, which oversees hardware initiatives. The revival reflects renewed interest in wearables fueled by AI advancements, as tech firms increasingly embed the technology into...