As tech giants like Meta shift their focus to AI, the metaverse seems to be taking a backseat. Despite this shift, the growing interest in AI’s potential cannot be ignored. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, for instance, reached a remarkable milestone with 100 million active users in January. This begs the question: Can AI save the metaverse?
AI’s Ascendancy: A $1.5 Trillion Market
The AI market is projected to experience rapid growth, with an estimated annual rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. By the end of this period, it is expected to surpass a value of $1.5 trillion. This surge in AI’s popularity has overshadowed the metaverse, despite substantial investments made in the virtual world in recent years.
The fashion industry has shown a particular fondness for AI, leveraging its power in various ways. AI-driven fashion design accounts have gained significant popularity by creating hyper-realistic digital fashion pieces. In contrast, metaverse fashion struggles to capture mainstream attention, with only a few successful players like Roblox gaining traction. One of the main hurdles for metaverse fashion is its early stage of development, which makes it inaccessible and cumbersome for users. As a result, brands like Vaquera, Levi’s, and Casablanca are turning to AI for innovative solutions.
Moreover, China, once a metaverse stronghold, is now shifting its focus to AI. This shift has resulted in the closure of metaverse ventures in China, particularly in digital fashion and collectibles platforms. With AI’s rapid rise, the metaverse market finds itself at a crucial crossroads.
The Power of Collaboration: AI and the Metaverse
Can AI and the metaverse coexist and even complement each other? AI possesses unparalleled creativity, while the metaverse offers the assurance and trust provided by blockchain technology. By combining these two forces, a world of exciting possibilities emerges. The integration of AI and the metaverse can amplify user empowerment, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.
Apple’s recent hints at incorporating generative AI into its Vision Pro headset serve as a notable example of this synergy. Such developments highlight how companies can invest in both AI and metaverse technologies to enhance their applications.
Furthermore, the metaverse continues to hold relevance in modern web culture. It provides a platform for users to express their creativity, something that AI currently lacks. The metaverse’s user-generated content contributes to its ongoing vibrancy and relevance in web culture.
As AI continues to shape the world, it has the potential to elevate the importance of the metaverse. When these two forces work together, thrilling opportunities arise, giving users more power and making the virtual world accessible to all.