The Fusion of the Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence
Two years ago, Facebook underwent a transformation, rebranding itself as Meta, signaling a dedicated shift towards the metaverse, described by Meta as "the next phase in social interaction and the heir to the mobile internet."
This deliberately broad definition empowers Meta and other tech giants to shape the metaverse as a fusion of digital realms: augmented reality, virtual reality, gaming, and beyond. Consequently, as the metaverse emerges as a convergence of the digital and physical realms, artificial intelligence stands out as its closest technological companion.
While the metaverse remains a significant focus, artificial intelligence is poised to steal the spotlight in 2024, even within Meta's agenda. During Meta Connect in September, Zuckerberg unveiled the beta rollout of Meta AI, an advanced chatbot for WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Alongside Meta AI, Meta introduced 28 other artificial intelligence initiatives in beta.
Beyond conventional chatbots, these artificial intelligences encompass creative tools and characters inspired by cultural figures, crafted with bespoke personalities, interests, and viewpoints.
While Meta may dominate the landscape for chatbots, the most talked-about artificial intelligence development of 2023 was ChatGPT, OpenAI's chatbot. Launched in late 2022, ChatGPT initially found traction in content creation, particularly driving a surge in AI-generated e-books. Authors leveraged the tool to transform ideas into published works within hours. ChatGPT also witnessed broader consumer adoption, setting records as the fastest-growing consumer app in history in February. By November, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced ChatGPT boasted over 100 million weekly active users. With its usage continually surging, chatbots are poised to remain prominent in digital conversations throughout 2024.
Though the initial growth is promising, the future success of the metaverse, chatbots, and emerging artificial intelligences hinges on sustained user engagement, effective brand monetization, and regulatory frameworks.
