Meta, the parent organization of Facebook, might launch a competitor to the Apple Watch this year. According to The Information, the smartwatch, dubbed ‘Malibu 2,’ is expected to include health-monitoring features akin to those found in other well-known smartwatches, like the Apple Watch. A Meta AI assistant will be incorporated into the watch’s operating system.

The numeral two in the code name could indicate a previous smartwatch initiative that was eventually abandoned. That device was said to have an embedded camera, but it’s uncertain whether the new model will feature this capability.

Information about the smartwatch is scarce. Nonetheless, the concept seems plausible, given that Meta already provides a variety of VR headsets and accessories, along with Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses. The Meta smartwatch might serve as a means for gesture-based control of these gadgets.

Meta has been cutting expenses in its virtual reality projects, having recently terminated over 1,000 jobs connected to the company’s metaverse ambitions. Meta CEO Andrew Bosworth stated that the company would redirect its metaverse focus toward wearables, which might clarify its heightened interest in smartwatches.