Yesterday’s tech flavor of the month — the metaverse — has been chased from the headlines by ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) models. The Wall Street Journal went so far as to proclaim, “The Metaverse is Quickly Turning into the Meh-taverse.”
Far from it. The metaverse is a creature of AI in that much of what happens in the metaverse is determined by AI algorithms. Just because the metaverse has disappeared from public consciousness does not mean it should disappear from public concern.
The rapid advancement of AI has sparked numerous debates about implications for various technologies, including the metaverse. Integrating AI with emerging technologies such as the internet of things, blockchain, natural language processing (NLP), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality and extended reality, to be sure is creating new experiences thought previously to be impossible.
One of the most promising aspects of integrating AI into the metaverse is the potential to create personalized experiences for individual users, based on user behavior and preferences. AI's ability to automate repetitive tasks also holds the promise of freeing up time and resources for more complex and creative endeavors. While there are challenges to overcome, such as ensuring user privacy and addressing issues of bias and discrimination, the potential benefits of AI in the metaverse are significant.
The rise of AI
AI has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, driven by advancements in machine learning, NLP and neural networks. Its ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data positions AI as a revolutionary force capable of improving efficiency and creating new opportunities across business sectors. AI technologies have permeated healthcare and finance, transportation, and entertainment, with notable achievements in medical diagnostics, autonomous transportation and sophisticated language models like GPT-4. In the context of the metaverse, AI is a key player in shaping, enhancing and heightening user experiences.
Metaverse: Current state and evolution
First introduced by Neil Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel, Snow Crash, the prefix "meta" is commonly used in Greek to denote transcendence. The metaverse is a 3D interactive and immersive experience in which real-world people, problems, and patterns come to life in an AI-defined and AI-driven world using avatars, virtual representations of physical objects, systems, and processes. It merges digital and physical realities so individuals can engage in real-time social interactions, work and play through AR, VR and persistent pseudo-worlds.
The "new normal" of the connected era after the pandemic has forced businesses to seek new ways of engaging with customers, collaborating with employees, and growing the bottom line. Enter the metaverse. As per a report by Grand View Research, the global metaverse market size is expected to reach more than $937 billion by 2030, with media and entertainment, fashion, government services, education, aerospace and defense prominently propelling such growth.
One of the more promising aspects of integrating AI’s automation to perform routine or repetitive tasks in the metaverse to free users up for more creative endeavors. Source: Digilife/Adobe Stock
Comparative analysis: AI vs metaverse
Initially, many believed that the rise of AI would render the metaverse redundant by replacing virtual experiences with algorithm-driven interactions. However, AI has not diminished the metaverse; instead, it has made it more vital. It is expected that within two years, one-quarter of the population will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse.
While AI is currently leading in terms of investment and application depth and breadth, the metaverse is steadily gaining traction.
AI
- 77% of consumers now use AI technologies.
- The global AI market is projected to reach $190.7 billion by 2025 and $15.7 trillion by 2030.
Metaverse
- The global metaverse market size was valued at $47.7 billion in 2020.
- The metaverse currently hosts 400 million active users and is currently worth $800 billion.
- In the next five years, it is estimated that 70% of brands will have a presence in the metaverse and individuals will be spending more time in the metaverse than in the real world.
Economic impact assessments indicate that AI's immediate benefits are more tangible, improving efficiencies and reducing costs in existing industries. In contrast, the metaverse promises to create entirely new markets and revenue streams, though its full economic potential is yet to be realized.
Challenges and limitations
Both AI and the metaverse face significant challenges. AI must address ethical concerns, data privacy issues and regulatory frameworks. The metaverse contends with technological constraints, such as hardware and connectivity issues, and concerns digital identity and security. Privacy issues are magnified in the metaverse, where user tracking can expand to personal biometric data, influencing behavior in intrusive ways. Dominant companies that control vast amounts of data may stifle competition and acquire nascent competitors.
The metaverse's immersive nature exacerbates the distribution of misinformation, transforming untruths and propaganda into emotionally manipulative experiences. Harassment escalates as users' virtual representations become targets for various forms of abuse, heightening safety concerns, particularly for children, in virtual worlds where manipulation is easier. Additionally, the metaverse's real-time transactional nature makes it vulnerable to fraud and larceny. The integration of AI raises concerns about bias and discrimination, potentially institutionalizing existing digital divides and further complicating the landscape.
Future prospects
Despite challenges, the synergy between AI and the metaverse presents significant opportunities. AI needs to understand context, learn dynamically like humans, and handle the ever-changing nature of the metaverse. AI can address many of the metaverse's technological hurdles by optimizing network performance, enhancing security protocols and improving user experiences through intelligent design.
Developing a fully functional and commercial metaverse system still requires substantial innovation to unlock additional features and bring virtual environments closer to a perceived virtual universe.
- Enhanced user experience: AI can produce personalized content, create lifelike virtual settings and provide intelligent virtual assistants to help users navigate the metaverse.
- Access and inclusivity: AI can make the metaverse more accessible by offering features like text-to-speech, voice recognition and language translation, thereby making the virtual world more inclusive for people with disabilities or those who speak different languages.
- Security and privacy: Robust security and privacy measures are essential for the metaverse, and AI can enhance these by providing intelligent threat detection and prevention, as well as identity verification and authentication.
- Data and insights: The metaverse will generate vast amounts of data that can be analyzed to gain insights into user behavior and preferences. AI can analyze this data to improve users' metaverse experience.
- Automation and efficiency: AI can automate tasks such as content creation and moderation, improving efficiency and reducing the workload for human moderators and creators.
As AI continues to evolve, it will play a pivotal role in realizing the metaverse's full potential. Combined, the two will lead to innovative solutions like AI-driven virtual tutors in educational environments, intelligent health monitors in virtual clinics, and AI-powered virtual companions in social platforms. It could also lead to the creation of fully automated virtual cities, where AI systems govern infrastructure, services and interactions.
Conclusion
AI does not diminish the metaverse; rather it improves its viability and propels it forward. AI's advancements enhance the metaverse's capabilities, making it more interactive, intelligent, and immersive. While AI currently leads in terms of investment and application, the metaverse's potential to create new markets and experiences cannot be overlooked.
Together, AI and the metaverse are poised to reshape the digital landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation and growth. The metaverse represents an exciting frontier for innovation and growth. As these technologies continue to evolve, convergence will likely define the future of digital interaction, making the metaverse a vibrant, AI-enhanced reality.
About the author
name="_Hlk169165044">Emily Main holds a J.D. in Compliance Law and a BS in Telecommunications. With extensive experience in the intersection of technology and law, Main has contributed to numerous publications and conferences, exploring technical challenges, innovations, trends and applications. Passionate about communication and networking, she is dedicated to sharing the latest advances in the field with a professional engineering audience through engaging and informative articles.
