‘Generative AI will make the metaverse more cost-effective’

A new report argues that the rise of generative AI will make the construction of a metaverse more cost-effective.

The growing cynicism about the impact of the metaverse in the near future, as commentators highlight the formidable technical challenges involved in creating compelling 3D experiences, has been accompanied by excitement about the potential of generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT, which can boost productivity by producing content and code quickly.

But Making the Metaverse Useful asserts that rather than drawing resources away from the metaverse, the rise of generative AI will complement its development. The metaverse is essentially an application, while generative AI is a foundational technology that will be used for writing the code that will help build virtual worlds and, ultimately, a broader metaverse.

Clunky and expensive technology means metaverse-hosted events are unlikely to be a satisfactory substitute for attending a concert or sports fixture in person this decade, according to the report. But much of the negative commentary misses the fact that many mini-metaverses are being widely used today in online games such as Fortnite and fitness platforms.

The report argues that if the metaverse takes off, it could generate far more traffic than today’s networks could cope with. But if the metaverse proves to be a mirage – as many critics now claim – telecoms companies could find themselves with a lot of excess capacity.

Most fixed-line networks in developed markets are too good for 2D, but not powerful enough to live stream 3D/VR. If the online environment remains predominantly 2D, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections will be overkill. If the online environment goes predominantly 3D – with much of it live streamed – FTTH will be crucial, particularly in the business market where the metaverse could be used for collaborative design and training staff.

To read more from STL Partners’ Making the Metaverse Useful report, click here.