Meta is shutting down the virtual reality version of Horizon Worlds, marking a significant shift in its metaverse strategy as the company reallocates resources toward artificial intelligence.

The company said the Horizon Worlds app will be removed from the Quest VR store by the end of March and fully discontinued on VR devices by June 15. After that, the platform will continue to operate only as a mobile application.

Meta described the move as a strategic separation of platforms, allowing each to “grow with greater focus.” The decision effectively ends Horizon Worlds’ role as a flagship VR social experience, a position it held since Meta’s high-profile pivot to the metaverse in 2021.

Retreat From VR-Centric Metaverse Vision

Horizon Worlds was launched in late 2021 as a social platform where users could interact through avatars in virtual environments. It was designed to showcase the potential of immersive digital spaces powered by Meta’s Quest headsets.

However, adoption remained limited. The platform struggled to gain traction beyond a relatively small user base, with monthly active users reportedly staying in the hundreds of thousands. Broader consumer skepticism toward virtual reality, along with hardware limitations, slowed mainstream uptake.

Meta attempted to expand accessibility by launching a mobile version of Horizon Worlds in 2023. The app allowed users without VR headsets to participate in virtual environments, similar to platforms like Roblox. Despite this, engagement levels did not reach expectations.

The shutdown follows a series of cost-cutting measures within Reality Labs, Meta’s division responsible for virtual reality and metaverse development. The company recently laid off more than 1,000 employees in the unit, including teams working on first-party VR content.

Reality Labs has been a major financial burden for Meta, reporting multi-billion-dollar operating losses each quarter. In its most recent earnings report, the division posted a loss exceeding $6 billion for a single quarter.

Shift Toward AI and Platform Realignment

The decision to scale back Horizon Worlds underscores Meta’s broader pivot toward artificial intelligence, which has become a central focus across the technology sector.

While Meta is not abandoning VR entirely, it is restructuring its approach. The company said it will continue investing in the VR developer ecosystem while repositioning Horizon Worlds as a mobile-first experience.

Executives indicated that separating VR and mobile platforms will allow for more targeted development strategies. The mobile version is expected to serve as a more accessible entry point for users, potentially reaching a wider audience without requiring specialized hardware.

Meta’s evolving strategy reflects changing priorities within the company and across the industry. As generative AI gains momentum and attracts investment, companies are reassessing earlier bets on immersive virtual environments.

The shutdown of Horizon Worlds on VR highlights the challenges of building large-scale consumer platforms in emerging technologies. It also signals a shift in how Meta plans to balance its long-term ambitions between virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

AI & Machine Learning, Immersive Reality (AR, VR, MR, and XR), News

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is creating a surge in demand for skilled labor, as technology companies invest heavily in building data centers that power next-generation AI systems.

Major technology firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon are collectively committing nearly $700 billion in capital expenditures this year to expand data center capacity. These facilities are essential for training and operating large AI models, which require significant computing power and energy resources.

Amazon recently announced a $12 billion investment to build a new AI data center in Louisiana, expected to create hundreds of permanent jobs and thousands of additional roles in construction and technical services. Meta has also committed substantial funding, including a $27 billion joint venture with Blue Owl Capital to develop a large-scale data center in the same state.

Skilled Trades in High Demand

While much of the public discussion around AI has focused on its potential to disrupt white-collar employment, the buildout of physical infrastructure is driving demand for skilled trade workers. Roles such as electricians, HVAC engineers, robotic technicians, and industrial automation specialists are seeing sharp increases in job postings.

A global analysis by recruitment firm Randstad found that demand for robotic technicians rose by over 100% between 2022 and 2026. HVAC engineering roles increased by 67%, while industrial automation positions grew by more than 50%. Traditional construction and electrical roles also saw steady growth.

These positions are critical to constructing and maintaining data centers, which require advanced cooling systems, power distribution networks, and frequent upgrades to mechanical and electrical infrastructure. Facilities must often be retrofitted every four to six years to keep pace with evolving hardware requirements.

Industry leaders describe these roles as part of a growing category of “new-collar” jobs, blending technical expertise with hands-on work. Workers in these fields are increasingly collaborating directly with software engineers and data specialists inside data centers.

Rising Wages and Talent Constraints

The growing demand for skilled labor is driving up wages. According to Randstad, salaries for HVAC engineers have increased by 10% to 15% over the past four years. In some cases, workers transitioning into specialized data center roles are seeing pay increases of up to 30%.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has also indicated that six-figure salaries are becoming more common for workers involved in building AI infrastructure. This reflects a broader trend in which labor shortages are creating a premium for technical trade skills.

The shortage is expected to intensify. Industry estimates suggest the United States could face a deficit of nearly 2 million manufacturing workers by 2033. Construction groups also project the need for hundreds of thousands of additional workers in the coming years to meet infrastructure demand.

Several factors are contributing to the gap, including an aging workforce and limited geographic mobility. Unlike software roles, many of these jobs require on-site presence, making it difficult to quickly scale labor in regions where new data centers are being built.

Companies and governments are beginning to respond with training programs, apprenticeships, and partnerships with educational institutions. Investment firms have also launched initiatives to support workforce development, recognizing that capital alone is insufficient to meet infrastructure needs.

As AI adoption accelerates, the ability to build and maintain data centers is emerging as a critical bottleneck. The sector’s growth is increasingly tied not just to advances in software and chips, but to the availability of skilled workers capable of supporting the physical backbone of the AI economy.

AI & Machine Learning, Cloud & Infrastructure, News

Meta has rolled out a desktop application for its recently acquired AI startup Manus, expanding the reach of its autonomous agent technology beyond the cloud and onto users’ personal computers.

The new Manus Desktop app introduces a feature called “My Computer,” which allows the AI agent to interact directly with local files, applications, and system tools. Previously, Manus operated primarily through a web-based interface, where its general-purpose agent executed multi-step tasks remotely.

With the desktop release, Meta is positioning Manus as a more integrated productivity tool, capable of performing actions directly on a user’s machine. According to the company, the agent can read, organize, and edit files, as well as launch and control applications. It can also assist with software development tasks, including generating simple applications within minutes.

Expanding Competition in AI Agents

The launch comes as competition intensifies in the emerging AI agent category, where systems are designed to complete complex workflows with minimal human input. Meta’s move brings Manus closer in functionality to OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent that runs locally on users’ devices.

OpenClaw, created by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, has gained traction among developers and technology enthusiasts since its release last year. Its open-source model and local deployment have contributed to growing interest in decentralized AI tools. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently described OpenClaw as the “next ChatGPT,” highlighting its perceived potential in the space.

Unlike OpenClaw, which is distributed freely under an MIT license, Manus operates primarily as a subscription-based service. However, both platforms reflect a broader shift toward giving AI systems more direct access to user environments.

Manus also retains its existing integrations with services such as Google Calendar and Gmail, allowing it to coordinate tasks across both local and cloud-based platforms.

Security and Regulatory Considerations

The expansion of AI agents onto personal devices has raised concerns among experts about security and privacy. Granting software autonomous access to local files and applications introduces potential risks, particularly if safeguards are insufficient.

Meta said the Manus Desktop app includes user control mechanisms to address these concerns. Actions performed by the agent require explicit approval, with options such as “Allow Once” for individual tasks or “Always Allow” for repeated operations. These controls are intended to ensure that users maintain oversight of the agent’s behavior.

Meta acquired Manus in late December 2025 as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities. The company has been working to integrate Manus’s agent technology into its ecosystem, including its Meta AI assistant.

The acquisition, reportedly valued at around $2 billion, has drawn scrutiny from Chinese regulators. Manus was originally founded in China before relocating its headquarters to Singapore, and authorities are reviewing the deal for potential violations of technology transfer rules.

Meta has stated that the transaction complied with applicable laws and expressed confidence that the review will be resolved. The company added that the Manus team is now fully integrated and continues to develop and expand the service.

The desktop launch marks a significant step in Meta’s effort to compete in the next phase of AI development, where autonomous agents are expected to play a central role in how users interact with software and digital systems.

AI & Machine Learning, News