Zuckerberg’s approach to the metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) is under constant scrutiny, but it reveals a very important realization that might in fact be true: AI is key to unlocking the metaverse’s full potential. While metaverse technology on its own holds great promise, it cannot achieve the realism and interactivity of the physical world without the help of AI.
Think about all of the things we want the metaverse to be—a digital space where we can easily go shopping, attend classes, conferences, concerts, and more. We’re craving a platform that enhances our physical lives by providing added convenience and creating fun experiences in a user-friendly digital world. The problem with most current metaverses is that they’re not very realistic, making it difficult for people to fully immerse themselves in them, much less imagine themselves using the tech to complement real-world activities.
The need for a more human-centric digital experience has created a large gap that AI is best suited to fill. Thanks to its machine learning capabilities, AI can grow and adapt to the needs of users, bringing them tailored solutions and more meaningful interactions.
One particularly interesting use case for AI within the metaverse is with non-player characters (NPCs). AI has the potential to completely reshape user-NPC interactions which, if powered by AI, can become much more emotionally intelligent and interactive than they currently are as mere background characters. There are some interesting ways AI-powered NPCs could be leveraged, such as with online restaurant ordering. Instead of placing an online food order through an app, users could go to a kiosk in the metaverse staffed by an AI-powered NPC. The experience instantly becomes more interactive than placing an order online and allows people to ask questions they may typically reserve for a waiter in an actual restaurant setting, such as menu recommendations. Naturally, this utility could extend beyond restaurants and filter into other service-based industries.
Beyond NPCs, AI can be used as a tool to customize each user’s metaverse experience more broadly. By learning what each player is using, the digital platform for and the type of content they enjoy, AI could determine what type of content to share with each individual, whether it be ads, games, art or other activities. This intelligence could even inform how the metaverse physically manifests for different users—maybe a certain type of background graphic or music will accompany the landing page depending on each person’s preferences, which could evolve over time.
One potentially useful integration of AI within the metaverse is with help desks. Imagine visiting a virtual help desk and receiving helpful information delivered by an AI-powered avatar whose mannerisms resemble that of a real person. This would be far superior to current chat-bot interactions on websites, which more often than not aren’t actually very helpful and end up re-routing users and connecting them with an actual agent. It’s a long and convoluted process that stands to benefit from an ever-evolving AI model.
Of course, it’s impossible to discuss the perks of AI without acknowledging its downsides. There are security concerns with regard to data privacy, among fears that AI will take jobs away from people. At the end of the day, we need to be measured and careful in our approach to implementing AI and ensure user data privacy remains a top priority. It’s important to note that incorporating AI in the metaverse doesn’t necessarily mean it will replace jobs in the real world: in the restaurant ordering example, the AI-powered NPC isn’t replacing a human, but a smartphone app.
AI holds immense promise with regard to creating realistic, human-centric digital experiences. As the metaverse continues to find its place in our daily lives, AI will make metaverse experiences all the more exciting, useful, and perhaps most importantly, fun.
