Facebook F8 conference as it happened: Zuckerberg gets ready to unveil chatbots, live video and more

The tech community is waiting to hear Mark Zuckerberg's latest plans for the world's biggest social network

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, speaks at the 2014 F8 developer conference in San Francisco (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Facebook's F8 developer conference has kicked off, and the world of tech is waiting eagerly for some big announcements.

There's been a steady stream of rumours about what Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is going to unveil at the opening of the conference.

Chatbots are believed to be one of the major new products, smart conversational programs built in to Facebook Messenger that can order pizzas, book taxis and reserve tickets. We're also expecting more details on its live video streaming tool, and possibly new plans for virtual reality (VR).

Follow our liveblog below to keep up-to-date with all the latest news from the conference.

Keep reading The Independent for more detailed news from the conference in Fort Mason, San Francisco as it comes.

[12 April 2016 16:58 · Lizzie Dearden]

Things are beginning to warm up over in San Francisco, as attendees wait for the conference to begin. 

Natalie DiBlasio

@ndiblasio

A look inside @facebook's #F8 conference. No one in this hall yet, everyone is lined up for the keynote.https://t.co/iam9BVmr2W

4:53 PM - 12 Apr 2016

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

This is Facebook we're talking about, so obviously it's all flashy blue lights, projections (probably) a few Zuckerberg-style grey hoodies.

[12 April 2016 17:46 · Lizzie Dearden]

And we're off! The first keynote of this year's F8 conference is about to begin.

[12 April 2016 17:47 · Lizzie Dearden]

We're getting a nice little inspirational video to start with - only a few seconds in and we've seen a few glimpses of 360-degree video and virtual reality. 

[12 April 2016 17:48 · Lizzie Dearden]

At this year's F8, there's over 80 speakers in 40 different sessions - it's almost like Glastonbury.An impressive 2,600 people are also expected to attend the conference.

[12 April 2016 17:53 · Lizzie Dearden]

As is custom with tech conference livestreams, there's currently a nice bit of an awkward preamble from two overly-enthusiastic presenters to begin with.

[12 April 2016 17:55 · Lizzie Dearden]

F8's name is a reference to Facebook's culture - the '8' stands for typical eight-hour hackathons, and also represents the innovation employees are expected to do outside the usual eight-hour workday.Not the most glamorous origin story, really.

[12 April 2016 17:57 · Lizzie Dearden]

Tech fans around the world are actually hosting F8 viewing parties - like this one in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Udeze 'Kene & Sons

@udezekene

#Facebook#F8 viewing party here @Cc_HUBhttps://t.co/mL86grYJw2

5:56 PM - 12 Apr 2016

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

[12 April 2016 18:00 · Lizzie Dearden]

Don't they all look excited to be there?

[12 April 2016 18:03 · Lizzie Dearden]

"We're going to walk through our roadmap for the next 10 years" - Zuckerberg has taken to the stage.

Naturally, it includes virtual reality, live video, bots and "bringing the world together."

[12 April 2016 18:04 · Lizzie Dearden]

Mark Zuckerberg: "The internet has enabled us to access and share more information than ever before. We've become one global community, and we're all better off for it."