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MetaOptics Sharpens Focus on Metalens Commercialisation; Withdraws Nasdaq Listing Application, and Defers U.S. Dual Listing Plan

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SINGAPORE, Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) (“MetaOptics” or the “Company”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), a Singapore headquartered semiconductor optics company, today announced that it has notified The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC of its withdrawal of its listing application, effective August 7, 2026 (the “Withdrawal”).

“This exercise is a key part of our Company’s strategic plan, aligned with our focus towards our key market and customers in the United States. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, recent whiplash in technological stocks’ price performances, ongoing technological disruption, the need for certainty over capital expenditures and intensifying global competition for capital, as well as our obligations to protect shareholder value, we have decided not to proceed with the Proposed Nasdaq Dual Listing at this stage,” said Mr Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics. “The Proposed Nasdaq Dual Listing was always a means, not an end. We remain well-capitalised, with a healthy cash balance. We have also continued to progress on and strengthen our customer engagements and our order book, and at present, we are channelling our capital and management focus into converting our customer pipeline into purchase orders, fulfilling purchase orders and building up our metalens production capacity.”

In reaching its decision, the Company weighed the following factors:

Prevailing geopolitical uncertainties and the resulting volatility in the U.S. capital markets, which has reduced the certainty and timeliness of pricing, undermined the ability to meet fundraising targets and increased execution risks;The pace of technological disruption in the optics and semiconductor value chain alongside intensifying global competition for capital in the semiconductor industry, and the heightened need for certainty over capital expenditures; andThe adverse perception of Asian small-cap issuers arising from a pattern of extreme stock price volatility following the listings of a notable number of such issuers on Nasdaq. Whilst the primary objective of the proposed dual listing on Nasdaq is to provide the Group with access to the U.S. capital markets, support the expansion of its metalens design and fabrication capabilities in the USA and position the Group in close proximity to potential key customers, there can be no assurance that the Company’s securities would not be affected by similar trading activities or schemes. Furthermore, the Company is cognisant of the importance to protect shareholder value, in view of the strong shareholders’ support received since its listing on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange in September 2025.

The Company regards this Withdrawal as a deferral rather than a change of ambition, and the Withdrawal does not and will not affect the Company’s strategic focus and operational presence in the U.S. market. The Company will continue to channel its capital and management focus into converting its customer pipeline into purchase orders, fulfilling purchase orders for its key metalens equipment and building up its metalens production capacity.

The Company will also continue to expand its U.S. presence through its subsidiary, MetaOptics Inc. (USA), and the planned deployment of a Direct Laser Writer at the University of Arizona’s Center of Semiconductor Manufacturing. With support and assistance from the Singapore government agencies, the Company is also in the process of establishing its maiden front-end semiconductor fabrication line with 12-inch DUV immersion photolithography equipment in the USA.

The Company may revisit an international dual listing when market conditions are more supportive.

MetaOptics remains listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange under the ticker 9MT. Shareholders are not required to take any action, and save for professional fees already incurred, the Company does not expect the Withdrawal to have a material impact on its net tangible assets per share or earnings per share for the current financial year ending 31 December 2026.

Business Momentum

The Withdrawal has no bearing on the Group’s business and operations, as well as the execution of its growth plans and strategies. The Company remains well-capitalised, with a healthy cash balance and is focused on continuing its path on (i) accelerating its transition to mass production capabilities as customer engagement moves into active evaluation and volume orders, and (ii) accelerating toward mass adoption of metalens technology in everyday devices:

Consumer Smart Devices

The Company’s second generation pico projector, built around its laser beam scanning optical engine, has drawn encouraging early demand ahead of its inaugural direct-to-consumer sales campaign launch. Since the pre-launch reservation page at https://prelaunch.metaoptics.sg went live in July 2026, the Company has secured close to 200 reservations, with interest from Japan and the United States. The direct-to-consumer sales campaign is currently in its pre-launch phase and is expected to open for general sale in the coming weeks.

In June 2026, the Company also began shipping design/evaluation orders of its metalens 5G smartphone and metalens AI smart glasses to prospective world-class customers in Europe, Japan and the Philippines, and has completed the design of a next-generation 12-megapixel colour metalens camera module which it plans to showcase at CES 2027.

Broadening Customer Pipeline

The aforementioned design/evaluation programme announced in June 2026 places the Company’s metalens modules directly in the hands of leading consumer electronics brands, telecommunications operators and original design manufacturers in Europe, Japan and the Philippines, who are evaluating and qualifying the modules in their own development environments.

Discussions with multinational customers are progressing across smartphones, AR and VR wearables, automotive sensing, co-packaged optics for data centres and biometric identification, including the tunable metalens module for 3D contactless fingerprint sensing being developed with a Singapore national semiconductor research institute. These constructive discussions are at various stages of sampling, qualification and evaluation, and commercial negotiation, and no binding agreement has been entered into to date.

Fulfilment of Purchase Orders

The Company remains focused on fulfilling purchase orders for its key metalens equipment, the Direct Laser Writer (“DLW”) and the 12″ Automatic Metalens Tester, over the next six to twelve months. The Company delivered its Automatic Metalens Tester to its partner in Taoyuan, Taiwan in March 2026, complementing the previously installed DLW in September 2025, providing end-to-end metalens manufacturing and testing capabilities, which further reinforced the Company’s commitment to supporting the region’s advanced semiconductor ecosystems.

In July 2026, the Company signed an agreement to deploy a DLW at the University of Arizona’s Center of Semiconductor Manufacturing, with installation expected to begin in 2027, a critical step in advancing its U.S. expansion strategy and its collaborative research with world-class semiconductor stakeholders in Arizona, and the wider U.S. market.

Supply Chain and Capacity Growth

The Automatic Metalens Tester is co-developed with a listed precision automation and assembly specialist, and the Company is in discussion with a leading European wafer foundry on adoption of the Automatic Metalens Tester within its foundry. Alongside these collaborations, MetaOptics is advancing partnerships covering critical equipment subsystems, wafer-level optics fabrication and the setting up of metalens mass production capacity on its 4-inch and 12-inch DLW platforms, with the aim of shortening lead times, improving yields and supporting mass production volume as design wins are secured.

About MetaOptics Ltd

MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) is a leading semiconductor optics company headquartered in Singapore, specialising in glass-substrate metalens solutions combined with AI-driven image processing. Through advanced optical design and a scalable 12-inch DUV lithography process, MetaOptics supports next-generation applications in co-packaged optics, mobile devices, augmented and virtual reality, automotive electronics and other emerging markets. The Group operates through four vertically integrated business units: capital equipment; metalens design and foundry; IoT and smart devices; and AI algorithms. For more information, visit www.metaoptics.sg.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the Company’s growth strategies, its future business development, results of operations and financial condition, its research and development efforts, its ability to attract and retain customers, and its ability to establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and business partners; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For sales enquiries, please contact sales@metaoptics.sg.

Singapore (Headquarters)

MetaOptics Technologies Pte Ltd, 81 Ayer Rajah Crescent, #01-45, Singapore 139967

United States

MetaOptics Inc. (USA), 1 Ferry Building, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94111

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/metaoptics-sharpens-focus-on-metalens-commercialisation-withdraws-nasdaq-listing-application-and-defers-us-dual-listing-plan-302846069.html

SOURCE METAOPTICS LTD

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ZAC Cognitive Explainable-AI (CXAI) enabling Situational Awareness for Autonomous Driving

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POTOMAC, Md., Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Z Advanced Computing, Inc. (ZAC), the pioneer Cognitive Explainable Artificial Intelligence (CXAI) software startup, was awarded 25 million dollar sole-source contract from US Air Force, with a recent new task order. In addition, ZAC is bringing its Situational Awareness tech to Self-Driving. The brain-inspired CXAI is the foundation and a prerequisite for the Human-Level Situational Awareness, which will enable Fully Autonomous-Driving (under all complex or unexpected conditions or situations on the road).

ZAC is the only company in the world to achieve AI training with:

only few training samples (typically 5 to 50), based on Abstraction/Generalization, similar to humans (instead of 1000s to Billions).much smaller/lower computation resources, CPU/GPU, energy/battery, Carbon footprint, size/weight, and cost of installation/maintenance.

CXAI is the foundation and prerequisite for the Human-Level Situational Awareness, to enable Level-5 Self-Driving.

Similarly, ZAC-CXAI is being recognized as a superior technology for the edge computing/applications (useful for many applications) by International Business Times (titled “Cognitive Explainable AI Challenges ‘The Bigger Is Better’ Narrative In AI”, by Adam Bent, 30-Apr-2026): “Because CXAI does not require extensive cloud-based infrastructure, it can be deployed on a wide range of devices, including edge environments”. In addition, ZAC also eliminates the “Hallucination” and “Black Box” problems (associated with the Neural Nets).

ZAC owns a very strong IP portfolio: over 450 inventions (including 15 issued/allowed US patents).

ZAC has an impressive team of scientists/developers. The development is headed by Dr. Saied Tadayon, a scientist, veteran software developer, and math prodigy, who ranked 1st as an undergrad at Cornell, with his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Cornell at age 23 (the youngest).

ZAC has world-renowned advisors, including 2 Nobel Laureates:

Prof. David Lee (Nobel Laureate, Physics),Prof. Roald Hoffmann (Nobel Laureate, Chemistry),Prof. Mory Gharib (former Caltech Vice Provost of Research),Prof. Gholam Peyman, MD (Inventor of LASIK; recognized by the Smithsonian Magazine as the Top 8 Medical Inventions/ Marvels; awarded National Medal of Technology and Innovation by US President),late Prof. Robert Buhrman (former Cornell Sr. Vice Provost of Research),Prof. Mike Spencer (former Cornell Associate Dean of Engineering for Research),late Prof. Mo Jamshidi (UTSA, former Founding Dir. of NASA Center for Autonomous Control; US Army Science Board),late Prof. Lotfi Zadeh of UC Berkeley (“Father of Fuzzy Logic”; co-inventor of Z-Transform; AI Hall-of-Fame), who is also one of ZAC inventors.

Contact:

Z Advanced Computing, Inc. (ZAC)
Tel.: 301-294-0434
media@ZAdvancedComputing.com
www.ZAdvancedComputing.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zac-cognitive-explainable-ai-cxai-enabling-situational-awareness-for-autonomous-driving-302846186.html

SOURCE Z Advanced Computing, Inc.

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AAOS Member Insights Panel highlights surgeons’ priorities for technology innovation and physician well-being

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ROSEMONT, Ill., Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are rapidly transforming musculoskeletal care while easing the burdens of managing a surgical practice. Yet orthopaedic surgeons still need more effective solutions for complex clinical challenges made worse by daily administrative challenges.

Together, these pressures can harm the mental health of surgeons and their support teams. Insights from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Member Insights Panel, a national research panel of more than 520 orthopaedic surgeons, reveal what physicians hope technology can do to improve patient care, streamline practice management and support clinician well-being.

Technology Advancements and Adoption
Survey respondents named robotics/robotic surgery as the single most exciting innovation in clinical practice. AI ranked second among surgical advancements and first among practice tools that may lighten clinical and administrative burdens. Examples of AI-driven efficiencies include tools for insurance coding, dictation, compliance, and other time-consuming tasks.

Interest in robotics was reflected in 30% of responses, highlighting that it often provides better implant positioning, alignment, surgical precision, and soft-tissue balance. AI followed, with 22% of respondents noting its growing role in surgical planning, diagnostics, and clinical documentation. Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed-reality, computer-assisted tools are gaining traction in surgical training and education, according to 11% of respondents.

Beyond the operating room, survey respondents said that non-clinical technology could improve efficiency in daily operations. Coding and billing resources topped the list of desired tools (42%), followed by AI-powered documentation (25%). Respondents said that trimming administrative tasks would enable them to spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.

When evaluating new technologies, 40% of respondents said they would ask themselves:

Will it improve workflows within my practice?Will it reduce the operating room footprint?Will it fuel overall efficiency from the operating room to the office?

However, respondents also pointed to reimbursement or administrative burdens that block them from trying new technologies. Nearly 50% said these pressures sometimes stood in the way of tech adoption, while 29% said they were often or almost always a barrier.

Mental Health Remains a Critical Challenge
While respondents shared optimism about emerging technologies, they also noted the ongoing personal demands of practicing medicine. More than one in four orthopaedic surgeons said they are either simply getting by or struggling, suggesting that technology alone cannot address many of the profession’s biggest challenges.

In describing sources of stress, survey respondents cited intense pressure to perform (53%), the emotional impact of patient outcomes (50%), growing administrative workloads (46%), and the difficulty of achieving a healthy work-life balance (43%). Respondents also pointed to the strain of dealing with insurance companies, specifically the battle for authorization and payment, as well as the flawed structure of the United States healthcare system.

“It is time to take the focus back to what really matters, instead of metrics created by people who are not in medicine,” one respondent noted, echoing the views of many others.

Despite growing concerns for physician well-being, conversations around mental health remain difficult for many orthopedic surgeons. Some 27% of respondents said they found it difficult to discuss mental health at work. Only 54% said they felt comfortable doing so.

Real-World Perspective to Drive Smarter Decisions
Together, these findings highlight the value of the AAOS Member Insights Panel as a rapid source of perspective from orthopaedic surgeons across career stages and specialties who have volunteered to share their expertise and perspective.

The panel captures surgeons’ views and experiences with innovation, technology, and the products and services needed to run a practice amid growing challenges. It also documents what surgeons need most, giving clinical and non-clinical partners an opportunity to address unmet needs with new technologies and approaches.

“The best insights come from the people doing the work every day,” said Kristen Wagner, director of market research, AAOS. “Through our Member Insights Panel, organizations gain direct access to verified orthopaedic surgeons who can share what’s happening in practice, what’s working and where unmet needs remain. Those insights help our partners move forward with confidence and create solutions that deliver real value.”

To learn more about how AAOS Market Research Services can deliver actionable insights tailored to your organization, contact Angela Buckley at buckley@aaos.org or visit AAOS.org.

About the AAOS Member Insights Panel
The AAOS Member Insights Panel is an opt-in group of 524 U.S.-based members (Residents/Fellows, Candidates, Active Fellows and Allied Members) who provide feedback through short SMS research chats for industry partner projects and select internal staff questions. Learn more here.

About AAOS
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level to best treat patients in their daily practices. AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

For More Information:

              Nicole Winston-Ramirez

847-384-4162

winston-ramirez@aaos.org

              Deanna Killackey

847-384-4035

killackey@aaos.org

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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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In HelloNation, Optometry Expert Dr. Spencer Franz Clarifies Eye Discomfort Causes

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The article explains how dry eye and allergies can cause similar symptoms while requiring different approaches to treatment.

CARLSBAD, N.M., Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Are your red, watery eyes caused by allergies or something else? That’s the question answered in a HelloNation article featuring Optometry Expert Dr. Spencer Franz of Vision Source Carlsbad in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The article explains how the dry Carlsbad climate can make it difficult to tell the difference between dry eye and eye allergies, two conditions that share symptoms but require very different treatments.

As detailed in the article, dry eye is a condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough quality tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. In Carlsbad, where dry air and frequent wind are part of daily life, tear evaporation increases and can lead to irritation, blurry vision, and ongoing discomfort. According to Dr. Franz, even individuals who have never had eye discomfort before may develop dry eye symptoms due to environmental exposure.

In contrast, eye allergies are caused by a reaction to airborne substances like pollen, dust, or mold. These allergens trigger the release of histamines, which create itching, redness, and swelling. While both dry eye and allergies can cause similar signs, the HelloNation article explains that allergy-related symptoms often come with nasal congestion or sneezing and tend to include intense itching, which is less common with dry eye.

Watery eyes are one of the more confusing symptoms. The article clarifies that watery eyes can happen with either condition. In dry eye, excessive tearing is a reflex response to dryness, and the tears are usually poor in quality. With allergies, tearing is part of the body’s inflammatory response. Without a routine eye exam, it can be difficult for individuals in Carlsbad to determine what is really causing their eye irritation.

Another way to tell the difference is by looking at the pattern of redness. The article explains that dry eye redness may appear gradually and get worse throughout the day, especially with screen use or wind exposure. Allergy-related redness often comes with puffy eyelids or swelling and may happen more suddenly. Because of the shared signs, misdiagnosis is common without a thorough evaluation.

Using the wrong kind of eye drops can lead to more frustration. Dr. Franz notes in the HelloNation article that allergy drops reduce histamines, while artificial tears restore moisture. Some redness-reducing drops can actually make dry eye worse if used too frequently. Choosing the wrong product may not only delay relief but also worsen symptoms over time.

Carlsbad residents who work on screens throughout the day may find their symptoms worsening due to reduced blinking. This can further dry out the eyes and lead to irritation that is often mistaken for allergies. The article emphasizes that only a routine eye exam can help pinpoint the exact cause of discomfort and recommend appropriate treatment.

During an eye exam, eye care professionals can assess tear quality, look for signs of inflammation, and evaluate how the eyelids are functioning. According to HelloNation, this step is essential for treating the root cause rather than simply masking symptoms. Whether a person is dealing with dry eye or eye allergies, knowing the difference can lead to faster, more effective relief.

Proper diagnosis leads to targeted care. Dry eye may be treated with lubricating drops, prescription medication, or lifestyle changes. Eye allergies might require antihistamines or coordination with an allergist. The article reminds readers that treating the wrong condition could result in prolonged irritation or even long-term eye surface damage.

Living in Carlsbad means managing environmental conditions that constantly affect the eyes. Understanding the difference between dry eye and eye allergies is an important part of protecting comfort and long-term eye health. When symptoms persist, guessing is no substitute for a professional opinion.

Dry Eyes vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference in Carlsbad’s Dry Climate features insights from Dr. Spencer Franz, Optometry Expert of Carlsbad, New Mexico, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-optometry-expert-dr-spencer-franz-clarifies-eye-discomfort-causes-302846189.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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