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  • Cathy Huang

The Metaverse and AI

The metaverse refers to combining physical and virtual space through extended reality technologies to form a digital world parallel to the real world. Many experts view the metaverse as a 3D, immersive iteration of the internet as we interact with one another in avatar form and take our identities and monetary assets with us; the metaverse is a “logical next stage of development” from our existing digital world. 


According to Mathew Ball, a venture capitalist and angel investor who’s written a series of essays about the potential and structures of the metaverse, explained to VICE, “When these two technologies (internet and computing) first emerged, all interactions were primarily text-based (emails, messages, usernames, email addresses). Then, they slowly became more media-based (photos, videos, livestreams). The next elevation of user interface and user experience is into 3D. Secondly, if we think of [a] mobile [phone] as placing a computer in our pocket and the internet being available at all times, think of the metaverse as always being within a computer and inside the internet.”


Artificial intelligence is integral to creating a friendly and comfortable metaverse interface. Machine learning methods interpret and comprehend visual data from the real world, such as using facial recognition technologies to create accurate and realistic avatars. 


Symbiotic collaboration between the metaverse and AI 


AI can generate sophisticated social and character interactions to provide a more immersive and authentic experience. Emotional intelligence algorithms create complex NPCs that can respond to users’ social cues. These algorithms meticulously analyze various user input forms, including text, voice, facial expressions, and body language, to gauge emotional states and modify their responses to align with these cues. Other features, like chatbots, avatars with personality, and real-time translation, also use AI-enabled language models. 


AI is transforming the creation of virtual worlds, making it more efficient and accessible. By employing generative adversarial networks (GANs) and procedural content generation, creators and developers can automatically construct intricate textures, models, and landscapes. NVIDIA's GauGAN can transform simple sketches or text into realistic landscapes. Developers and creators can also build digital twins of whole cities, environments, and buildings by leveraging generative AI tools and feeding them with data and visuals from cameras and sensors in the physical world. 


AI significantly enhances the realism and complexity of virtual environments through dynamic spaces, realistic objects, and intelligent entities, using techniques like procedural generation and neural networks. AI can learn and evolve, adjusting game difficulty in real-time and allowing game worlds to change dynamically based on player actions for a personalized experience. Predictive modeling by AI anticipates player actions, tailoring the gaming experience to individual preferences. 


Conclusion


In conclusion, the metaverse combines physical and virtual spaces, offering a 3D, immersive internet iteration. Artificial intelligence is vital in creating a user-friendly interface, generating realistic avatars, and facilitating sophisticated social interactions. AI also revolutionizes the creation of virtual worlds, automating the development of textures, models, and landscapes. Its predictive modeling capabilities personalize gaming experiences. With AI's transformative influence, the metaverse expands the boundaries of human interaction and creativity.


Reference List


Landvault.io. (2024). How the Metaverse Can Leverage AI - Landvault Blog. [online] Available at: 


Tucci, L. (2024). What is the metaverse? An explanation and in-depth guide. [online] WhatIs. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/The-metaverse-explained-Everything-you-need-to-know [Accessed 29 Mar. 2024].


Vice.com. (2022). What Is the Metaverse? An Explanation. [online] Available at: https://www.vice.com/en/article/93bmyv/what-is-the-metaverse-internet-technology-vr [Accessed 29 Mar. 2024].


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