The rise of generative AI has reportedly led to a pullback from Facebook Meta on its metaverse ambitions, and it is instead focusing on backing its AI tools and short-form videos. While last year the company heavily invested in its Reality Labs division, which focuses on VR and the metaverse, the division has been losing money since its inception at an unsustainable rate. The company’s switch in messaging is likely driven by the growth of generative and traditional AI, and the interest it has garnered, and also the cost of investing in a still unproven concept. However, this has led to a debate on whether AI has killed off the metaverse or if it is just a stepping stone towards it. While some argue that AI has taken the place of the metaverse, others believe that AI can be a crucial component in developing the metaverse.
Meta even had a show that was meant to hype up the metaverse
However, the relationship between AI and the metaverse is not as simple as Meta’s recent pivot may suggest. While it’s true that the rise of generative AI has made it easier to create convincing virtual environments, it has also raised important ethical and social questions that must be addressed if we are to build a truly inclusive and equitable metaverse.
One of the key challenges of using AI in the metaverse is ensuring that it does not perpetuate existing biases and inequalities. AI systems are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on, and if that data reflects societal prejudices, then the AI will inevitably reproduce and reinforce them in the virtual world. This is particularly concerning given the potential for the metaverse to become a kind of “second life,” where people can escape from the problems and inequalities of the real world.
Moreover, the use of AI in the metaverse raises questions about the nature of human creativity and expression. If AI systems are capable of generating music, art, and even entire environments, what does that mean for human creators? Will they be displaced by machines, or will they find new ways to collaborate with them? And what about the value of human creativity and originality? Will it be diminished in a world where AI can create perfect copies of anything and everything?
Meta’s Horizon Worlds Metaverse Isn’t doing so well
Another concern is the potential for AI-generated content to be used for nefarious purposes. Deepfakes, for example, are a type of AI-generated content that can be used to create convincing fake videos or images of people saying or doing things they never did. In the metaverse, this technology could be used to create virtual celebrities or political figures that are indistinguishable from real ones, with potentially disastrous consequences for public trust and democracy.
Despite these concerns, however, AI also has the potential to enhance the metaverse in many ways. For example, it can be used to create more realistic and interactive virtual environments, allowing people to explore and interact with them in new and exciting ways. AI can also be used to create more personalized experiences, tailoring virtual environments and interactions to the individual user’s preferences and needs.
Moreover, AI can help to address some of the social and economic challenges of building a metaverse that is truly inclusive and equitable. For example, it can be used to help create more accessible and barrier-free environments for people with disabilities, or to help bridge linguistic and cultural divides by automatically translating conversations in real-time.
While Meta’s recent shift away from the metaverse may seem like a setback for the technology, it is important to recognize that AI and the metaverse are deeply intertwined. As we continue to explore the possibilities of these technologies, it is essential that we address the ethical, social, and economic challenges they pose, and work to build a metaverse that is truly inclusive, equitable, and empowering for all.
Thanks for reading Solanews , remember to follow our social media channels for more