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The Convergence of AI and the Metaverse and What it Means to the World

Taken separately, the two most hyped technologies of the past year each has the power to completely transform our modern lives. When combined that transformation…

Published

9 months ago

August 3, 2023

This article was originally published by AITHORITY

The Convergence of AI and the Metaverse and What it Means to the World

Taken separately, the two most hyped technologies of the past year each has the power to completely transform our modern lives. When combined that transformation will be unlike anything mankind has ever experienced. This is the singular moment that will mark a new epoch of civilization where everything will be referenced as “before” the phenomenon or “after.”

To understand why the combined technologies of AI and the metaverse are so much more than the sum of their parts, we need to understand the benefits they each will contribute to our individual lives. When new technology gives people wealth, power and control over their lives, it thrives and gains adoption. This will happen with both AI and metaverse technologies and before we know it, they will transform everything.

We’ve all seen examples of the primitive versions of AI that have become public in the past few months. From writing essays to generating images to building software, AI large language models have the appearance of a neat parlour trick – mimicking human abilities and often generating impressive results. Much of the discussion surrounding AI has revolved around the concerns that AI may replace certain jobs; and indeed, this is a very likely outcome.

AI has many promising applications that will improve the efficiency in fields ranging from filling warehouse orders to driving a taxi or truck, to reading medical scans and writing legal briefs.

But unless your job is directly impacted, the introduction of these applications probably aren’t going to bring AI directly into your life in a major way.

We’ve also all heard the metaverse is coming. Most people don’t know what that really means besides seeing people in bulky VR headsets stumbling around their own little world, but don’t be fooled; the truth is more mind-blowing than you can possibly imagine.

I like to think of the metaverse as the next generation of the internet.

It’s a blend that takes the best features of video games and the World Wide Web to create a new kind of web surfing experience. Instead of visiting flat webpages you experience the web as if it was the real world, filled with other people and places you see and interact with like you do in real life.

Instead of just reading and commenting on posts from friends on Facebook, you can actually spend time with your friends going to shows, events and even vacations. But in an improvement to real life, you don’t need to be concerned about travel, hotels, waiting in lines or buying expensive tickets. In a metaverse you can travel anywhere with the click of your mouse, economies of scale mean your tickets for a concert or convention will cost pennies and your group can always have the best seats in the house (because all the seats are the best).

Just like the internet today, you will be accessing the metaverse from any type of device. When you’re on the go, you will be able to hit up a simple rendering of the metaverse from your mobile phone or tablet. For many applications you’ll want to log in from a computer or smart TV; but for the real premium events like concerts or amusement parks, you’ll probably want to have a VR headset.

The true power of the metaverse ultimately comes from its ability to do things we’ve never been able to do before. Imagine being able to attend trade shows or events like Comic-Con from anywhere in the world with no travel costs or being able to have millions of students from around the world attending classes at Harvard for a few pennies a semester.

When you buy things online you can shop with your avatar to try on the clothes, and you will have a complete digital inventory of every item of clothing from your real-world closet. No more wondering if this new blouse will match those shoes you own because you can actually try them on together. And no more wondering how that couch will look in your living room because you can put the digital version into your virtual model home to know before you purchase.

But one of the most transformative things about the metaverse is how it will reshape human interactions. How you meet people and date, fall in love, get married, make friends, even attend funerals will all move from either being done in the real world or being done online, to being done in a “best of both” way.

As avatars in the metaverse, you will have the power of being online (search, swipe, message) combined with the genuine human interactions of actually being in the live presence of other people – your friends, their friends, real interactions and real events to see and talk about. These healthy social interactions will be transformative in and of themselves, but there is a whole new kind of interaction that take this to the next level – AI.

The first human-robot most of us will ever encounter will be our own personal AI robot avatar that lives in the metaverse.

Imagine having an artificial intelligence that is “trained” on everything you do and everyone you interact with, to be able to assist and help you to live your best life.

As Cyrano de Bergerac, your AI assistant can whisper into your virtual ear helpful things to say when you meet someone that you’d like to get to know. It can help you get over your anxiety and feel confident in private conversations or important business meetings. Your AI can talk to you and help you in your decision making, suggesting possible actions and activities based on a deep understanding of your own past decisions and how you live your life and what suggestions might make that life better.

You won’t be able to have an AI robot following you around in the real world for a long time, but in the metaverse you’ll be able to have one sooner than you think. And as it gets to know you, you’ll have a trusted adviser, assistant, mentor, wingman and friend that will have no motive but to make your life better.

As AI and the metaverse merge, a powerful new technology will evolve. Your personal AI will be able to playback events you want to remember, advise you on your best course of action, know your desires and help you achieve them and, for some people, maybe even become an object of love and desire.

The future is here, and everything is about to change with the combination of AI and the Metaverse.