People have already started thinking of the metaverse as a dead space. However, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, is still betting on its future. Although it did appear like the social media giant is pivoting towards artificial intelligence (AI), his latest discussion with Lex Fridman, a computer scientist, showcases how the company is not ready to give up yet.
More Metaverse Experiences On the Rise
The podcast took place in a metaverse setting where Fridman and Zuckerberg were seated miles apart. Lex Fridman expressed “The realism here is just incredible.” Meta CEO addressed the photorealistic avatars as Codec Avatars. The technology uses real-time scanning to present life-like avatars in front of the participants. Fridman said, “For me to have this kind of conversations with loved ones that would just change everything.”
Additionally, he asked what Mark is doing to make this technology more accessible to people. To that, Meta CEO explained that they are yet to figure out the matter which they’ll start with scanning a handful of people. They require more scans of people which the company is trying to capture.
The company is likely to roll out this technology progressively over time. There needs to be more data associated with people. Interestingly, the real-time scanning feature may eliminate identity theft in the metaverse entirely. It would not be possible for a cybercriminal to cloak and disguise until they are actually wearing a mask.
Meta CEO presented the possibility of people encountering more metaverse experiences in the coming years. He explained about his latest mixed reality (MR) product Meta Quest 3 that “It’s not ready to be like a kind of mainstream product yet but we just want to we’ll keep tuning in, keep getting more scans in there.”
In context to its upcoming Quest 3 headset, Mark revealed that it comes with an advanced chipset. Additionally, it is a third of the cost of Quest Pro. In short, it is better and cheaper as compared to its last products. He described “The display is better. And the chip is better so you’ll get better graphics. It’s 40 percent thinner so it’s um so just more comfortable.”
Bringing The Dead Back To Life
Zuckerberg also envisions an advanced world where people simply see the world through glass but with holograms. Such reality may exist by the end of this decade, he believes. He also explained the real world as a combination of virtual and physical worlds. People often use the terms physical world and real-world synonymously.
Bringing the dead back sounds like a work of fantasy. But it’s all a reality in the metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg also discussed the future of virtual worlds. Zuck Bucks put forth the possibility of creating a digital avatar of a deceased person using the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR).
Lex Fridman appeared curious about this possibility. He put forward his curiosity during the interview and asked “If you look into the future, is that something you think about, people who pass away but they can still exist in the metaverse.” Mark hinted at the possibility of such a setting.
He explained, “If someone has lost a loved one and is grieving, there may be ways in which you know being able to interact or relive certain memories could be helpful but then there’s also probably an extent to which it could become unhealthy.” It does sound like Harry’s addiction to the Mirror of Erised. Additionally, he believes they require more research in this matter.
AI and Metaverse Walking Side-by-Side
The show also discussed AI in the metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg told in one of Meta’s recent earnings calls that they will focus on artificial intelligence temporarily. Now the podcast creates an impression that both technologies are moving side by side in the company.
Artificial intelligence should not act against a creator’s will in the metaverse. Mark explains, “AI embodying a real creator, there’s a whole set of things that you need to do to make sure that AI is not going to say things that the creator doesn’t want right and that the AI is gonna know things and be able to represent things in the way that the creator would want the way that the creator would know.”
Mark Zuckerberg was booed for a low-resolution selfie he shared on Instagram. The podcast, however, confounds the expectations of critics based on an initial version of a world Meta is creating. Still, accessibility remains a major constraint. Even if Meta’s latest product is cheaper and better than the rest of the fleet, its price will be a financial blow to several middle-income individuals.
