Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has officially opened a £12 million audio research lab in Cambridge, marking a significant step in the tech giant’s ambitious push into AI glasses.
Bosses from Meta met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves to launch the new facility. The opening comes amid reports that the Silicon Valley company has acquired a minority stake in EssilorLuxottica SA, the world’s largest eyewear business and owner of brands like Oakley and Ray-Ban. It’s understood that Meta’s stake is valued at approximately £2.6 billion, representing just under 3% of the Paris-based firm.
Meta has outlined plans for rapid growth in its AI glasses division, with existing Ray-Ban Meta products and recently announced Oakley Meta lines. The company stated that its expansion in this area has driven the investment in the new Cambridge audio research lab. The facility is specifically designed to “advance spatial audio and machine learning for Meta’s future AI glasses,” and includes specialised “reverb rooms and ultra-quiet acoustic chambers” to refine the audio quality of its developing products.
Meta currently employs over 5,500 people across its UK operations.
Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, said: “Creating this world-class audio lab in Cambridge is a sign of our long-term commitment to the UK and our belief in the top engineering talent it produces. We want the brightest minds to make sure our smart glasses have the smartest AI-powered audio so you can focus on what you’re listening to no matter what’s going on around you. I can’t wait to experience the results of the work the lab produces.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves commented: “Meta’s investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for world-leading research and innovation while helping to supercharge the potential in the Oxford to Cambridge growth corridor. We want our high-tech industries to continue to lead the world in years to come which is why we’re backing our innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs with a record £22 billion in R&D (research and development) funding, creating the opportunity for good jobs and investment in Britain, and delivering on our plan for change.”
Image source: Meta
