#11: AI and the Metaverse
Artificial intelligence (AI) dominated headlines in the last year—and some claimed the technology’s advanced at the expense of the metaverse. This narrative shifted as it has become clear that AI will bring the metaverse closer to reality.
The metaverse is computer-powered, and AI describes intelligent-behaving computers. Advances in AI will bring new life and realism to virtual worlds, enable novel forms of creativity, and even make the metaverse a more inclusive place.
Virtual environments: Well before the interest in generative AI, Meta showcased the “Builder Bot”, an AI-powered interface where users speak virtual objects into existence (in a virtual world). Google’s AI tools are powering similar environment-builders. Users of AI may one day create vibrant metaverse experiences using basic commands—a paintbrush for the next digital age.
Avatars: In the metaverse, users’ digital identities will feel more personal, whether cartoonish or realistic representations of themselves. Apple’s Vision Pro boasts a feature where users can generate 3D avatars of their faces for video conferencing, for example. But AI promises to go further and enable users to generate novel forms of self-expression.
Virtual assistants and characters: From non-player characters to virtual assistants and interactive chatbots, AI will create and animate entities in the metaverse. These digital beings will not be decorative; they will react, interact, and customise their interactions based on individuals’ preferences.
Inclusivity: For years, AI has been powering automated subtitles for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, translating languages to enable new social experiences, and providing speech for sufferers of diseases like ALS. AI's real magic in the metaverse may be it’s ability to facilitate inclusion.
AI is already changing how people see and experience the digital world. Combining AI and the metaverse will introduce fresh, innovative ways to engage, connect, and work together.
But AI is a powerful tool. Whether it is used to paint a digital Sistine Chapel or to vandalise a cherished community site, whether to build or bring down bridges between users, will depend upon those who create and govern AI.
Into the EU metaverse…
Policy
European Parliament
The Internet Market and Consumer Protection Committee held an exchange on virtual worlds for its upcoming report.
The rapporteur, EPP’s Pablo Arias Echeverría 🇪🇸, urged the EU to focus on interoperability, protecting children and retaining talent. The shadow rapporteurs raised highlighted issues such as up-skilling, sustainability, infrastructure and new forms of online harm.
🚨🚔 EU Definition Police! For those less familiar with EU jargon, rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs are the MEPs leading the work on a report.
Missed our brief explainer of IMCO’s initiative? Check it out here!
Next steps: 28 Sept: Deadline for amendments; 29 Nov: Vote in the Committee; Jan 2024: Plenary vote.
European Commission
As part of its Virtual Worlds initiative, the Commission proposed a “European Partnership on Virtual Worlds” (p63-69) to support R&D, address regulatory questions, encourage innovation, and promote open standards.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology, an agency of the Commission, is offering €1 million in prizes for initiatives promoting deep tech talent for topics including “Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Metaverse.”
The EU’s executive commissioned Visionary Analytics and Ecorys to undertake a study of “Zero-distance XR applications and services.” The study will be published later this year.
Does the Digital Markets Act apply to the metaverse? “Not beyond the core platform services”, according to the Commission’s DMA-enforcer, during a panel hosted by POLITICO. Parliament and Council would “have to go back to the drawing board” to change that.
Some Business Bits:
👕 Bershka’s new flagship store in Milan introduced several innovations, including the Digital Fitting Lounge, where customers could use AR to try on digital clothing
✈️ Lufthansa Group launched a NFT-based loyalty program, allowing passengers to collect digital cards when they fly with any of their airlines.
🚗 Vodafone and Audi have teamed up to release an AR app for car purchases.
🏭 With the help of Nvidia, Mercedes-Benz is preparing to build digital twins for 30 of its factories worldwide.
Events
Partnership announcement! We are delighted to be working with Stereopsia EUROPE this year, the only XR conference in the heart of the EU. Readers receive a 20% discount on tickets using the code “MetaverseEU20”.
Panels we’re participating in—nice chances to meet us!
28 Sep: EIT RIS Conference (Sofia 🇧🇬)
18 Oct – 20 Oct Stereopsia (Brussels 🇧🇪)
19 Oct IIC’s Annual Conference (Cologne 🇩🇪)
“Virtual worlds – from the industrial metaverse to gaming and eSports - how are the ecosystems, and regulatory oversight, developing?”
24 Oct – 25 Oct AWE EU (Vienna 🇦🇹)
Upcoming conferences:
28 Sep - 29 Sep EIT RIS Conference (Sofia 🇧🇬)
18 Oct – 20 Oct Stereopsia (Brussels 🇧🇪)
18 Oct – 19 Oct Metaverse Summit & Awards (Berlin 🇩🇪)
24 Oct – 25 Oct AWE EU (Vienna 🇦🇹)
1 Nov – 3 Nov MET AMS (Amsterdam 🇳🇱)
15 Nov – 16 Nov MetaDays (Paris 🇫🇷)
15 Nov – 16 Nov Unite 2023 (Amsterdam 🇳🇱)
21 Nov The Fusion of AI and Corporate Metaverse (Kirchberg 🇱🇺)
27 Nov – 1 Dec Immersive Tech Week (Rotterdam 🇳🇱)
29 Nov Match XR 2023 (Helsinki 🇫🇮)