Embrace the Omniverse

Is Meta where tech is heading? VR headsets, multiplayer, online games have been around for a while, but what pushes us over towards this? When can all agree that affordability of a VR headset plus the accessibility of cloud technology that can create virtual worlds that millions of characters’ can wander at large helps? But are we talking only about video games? No, we are not talking only about games, we are talking about commerce, real money, big money inside the Metaverse.

While old people were discussing politics and knowing a little bit more about what a meaningful life should be. Millions were simply socializing on online games. We can responsibly say that the first seeds of the Metaverse were sown on the fertile soil of those young minds that played Minecraft/Fornite, etc, ad nausseam during the pandemic, but it goes beyond that. This games are social, addictive and profitable enough to make young consumers pay real money on digital merchandise. Kids nowadays want a Fortnite skin to impress their friends as much as they want a new pair of sneakers. Please add the concept of buying NFT’s as the next panacea and it all unfolds in front of your very own eyes.

To make thing even more alluring, Zuckenberg’s move on rebranding his company brings new virtual blood to what it seems to be the Age of Artificial intelligence. To my eyes this will look more like a Reinassance of thinking on what we perceive as real, we need to look as this things and rethink how we see ourselves. Can you imagine what it would be like when a baby grows up and her best friend is not a human but a computer? How does it works? This is so new, so overwhelming, we need philosophers, neurolinguistics and psychologists to address this issue right now, this could get out of hand in the blink of an eye.

The premise of the Metaverse is really powerful, virtual worlds on which you’ll live in. In those worlds you’ll be younger, stronger, with plenty of fun at your disposal, sound delightful right? But what could happen when the Metaverse is substantially better than your physical life? To tell you the truth with all the restrictions and dangers in the physical world, is not so difficult to imagine.

What if this Metaverse is not a virtual world we will go to, Let's give this notion a thought, what if it’s a time in space? a moment. Have you ever heard of the term “Singularity”? Singularity refers to Artificial intelligence, this is a hypothetical moment in time on which technological growth transgress and become uncontrollable. In simple words, A.I. becomes smarter than humans. What if this digitalized reality that we’ll build becomes more valuable than the physical life we’re living in?

There’s no way to hide it, this is nothing new. Many aspects of our lives have gone digital. Thanks to the pandemic, more people have work meetings from the comfort of their own homes. “No more commutes, let’s do it over Zoom.” Instead of having friends and acolytes, we got followers. Today people care more about what their online identity is. Real life identity comes second.

You might think that I’m living in the land of make believe, talking about things that don’t exist yet, but do you know how much time you already spend on your digital world? Use your smart phone, find out how much time you’re glued to this digital reality. In no time we would all be wearing glasses that will take us in and out of the physical realm. But will the human brain be clever enough to draw a line between real world and the Metaverse? Or in the end they will merge together to form a new entity? Only time will tell, and is running out for you and me.