Metaverse 2.0: Evolving from Virtual Worlds to Industry Giants
The Metaverse, often overshadowed by AI, is far from dead. Its evolving techniques are transforming how we interact with each other and data, blending real-time digital communication and likely integrating GenAI.
metaverse, Enterprise
"The Metaverse is dead!" is a phrase that might be heard today, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to dominate headlines. But is it really? While the futuristic vision of avatars and virtual worlds may not be front and center, the metaverse, in its broader sense, is very much alive—and evolving in ways we may not even notice.
In fact, as digital transformation advances across industries, metaverse-like technologies are playing a pivotal role in reshaping how we interact with data, machines, and each other. Far from fading into obscurity, the metaverse is subtly embedding itself in sectors like manufacturing, enterprise, and real-time digital communication, often fueled by generative AI. This article explores where we stand with the metaverse today, examining its current relevance and emerging applications.
Common Perceptions of the Metaverse
When most people hear the term "metaverse," they often envision a virtual world experienced through a VR headset. It conjures up images of digital avatars interacting, sometimes generated by AI, having conversations, or exploring fantastical environments. Generative AI tools like MidJourney play a role in creating futuristic visuals of the metaverse, often featuring sleek, imaginative architecture. These elements together suggest an immersive, digital universe where people can socialize, work, or play in a space that blends creativity with cutting-edge technology.
Beyond Avatars and Islands
The future of the metaverse extends far beyond the idea of a single, dramatic rollout or a virtual world filled with avatars and islands. Instead, the metaverse is gradually unfolding as real-time digital interaction increases across various domains. This evolution includes not only virtual spaces but also advancements in technology, such as autonomous robots. To understand this progression, consider the shift from physical maps to full GPS—this reflects a broader transformation similar to what we are seeing in the metaverse.
Thought Experiment: Metaverse and Autonomous Robots
Futuristic urban environment technology integration, render visualization, featuring a fleet of drones flying in formation, grid-like patterns, and precision in autonomous operations. Photo: compoundY
Autonomous robots are often trained in simulations—virtual worlds, digital twins, and metaverse environments. Through hundreds of thousands of iterations and challenges, AI models are developed. These models are then implemented into physical robots. This raises the question: are we, in a sense, the metaverse for these physical robots? When we interact with a robot trained digitally, are we indirectly engaging with its simulation? In this way, autonomous robots can be seen as expressions of the metaverse. The metaverse, rather than simply replacing the physical world, enhances and extends it through these technologies.
Industrial Metaverse
Industrial Internet of Things (IoT): Sensors and devices collect data from machines, equipment, and operations.
Data Gathering Leads to Digital Twins: This data creates digital replicas (digital twins) of physical assets.
Run 'What If' Scenarios on Digital Copies: Digital twins are used for AI predictive maintenance, machine learning optimization, employee training, supply chain modeling, energy efficiency exploration, and interacting with factories via large language models (LLMs). In essence, when real-time interaction occurs with a digital twin, it forms part of the metaverse.
Digitally Train Autonomous Robots: Simulated environments allow robots to be trained and optimized.
Deploy Physical Robots: The AI models created in the digital environment are applied to physical robots.
Start Digitally and Repeat - Digital Thread: This continuous feedback loop between digital and physical assets forms the backbone of the industrial metaverse.
Industrial Metaverse: A New Space Race
Floating 3D digital environments showcases the potential of digital twins in technology innovation. Virtual landscapes simulate urban planning, industrial setups, and interactive spaces. LLMs (large language models) powered digital twins enable predictive analysis, interactive design, and decision-making, vital for industries merging physical and digital realms in the metaverse.
The industrial metaverse is becoming a competitive arena, with companies like Siemens, NVIDIA, BMW, and Microsoft leading the charge. These partnerships enable the creation of digital-first factories, where entire factories and their products are simulated in detail, "down to the last bolt," before physical construction begins. Similarly, Siemens, NVIDIA, and Hyundai HD have developed a 7-million-part digital model of a ship that can be cloud-rendered and explored on any device, not just high-end graphic workstations. These advancements, which were unimaginable at this scale in 2006, are transforming both enterprise and consumer aspects of the metaverse, pushing the boundaries of what digital twins and virtual simulations can achieve.
OPENUSD: Open Universal Scene Descriptor
Created by Pixar, Universal Scene Description (USD) is the pioneering open-source software designed to efficiently and reliably exchange 3D scenes made up of various assets, sources, and animations, all while enhancing collaborative workflows.
OPENUSD (Open Universal Scene Descriptor) is an emerging standard designed to enable workflow interoperability for 3D assets in metaverse environments. Originally developed for Hollywood CGI, it is now being adopted in industrial, enterprise, and consumer applications related to 3D and metaverse technologies. Supported by major game engines like Unity and Unreal, OPENUSD is positioned to become a unifying framework for the creation and management of 3D content, potentially playing a key role in standardizing the metaverse ecosystem.
Final Thought: Understanding Reality
Consider this: if something is first created digitally and then made physical—whether it's a 3D-printed key ring or an entire factory complex—the physical object will impact the real world. Consequently, the metaverse evolves from being merely a "destination" or a side show; it is not a final endpoint. Digital experiences also have tangible effects on us. There is an equivalence between physical and digital experiences: some things benefit from physical presence, while others are enhanced by their digital forms. It's not about choosing one over the other; it's about recognizing the harmony between both, much like the balance of Yin and Yang.
While many people envision the metaverse as just VR headsets, talking avatars, elaborate architecture, virtual real estate, and action-oriented experiences, it will also feature unexpected elements. For example, there may be whimsical aspects like flying penguins (even if they don’t actually fly) as part of the diverse and imaginative experiences within the metaverse.
Note. This article is based on the *BCS Sussex branch event: "Metaverse, Did You Think It Had Gone Away?" The presentation provides a mix of both old and new perspectives on the significance and ongoing evolution of the metaverse.
Speaker Biography
Ian Hughes, known online as epredator, is the Chair of the BCS Animation and Games Development Specialist Group. In 2006, he played a key role in introducing colleagues and companies to virtual worlds like Second Life, beginning with the Wimbledon Championship. This work earned him the title of metaverse evangelist, exploring innovative ways to communicate online, many of which are now seeing a resurgence. A lifelong gamer since 1970, his passion led to a career in software engineering, as detailed in the BCS article Memoirs of a Bedroom Coder.
Venue:
University of Sussex
Chichester Lecture Theatre
Falmer BN1 9RH
About the Author
Razvan Chiorean is a published author of compoundY and a cutting-edge researcher in quantum computing, AI-ML, and blockchain technology. Through his #AIResearch handle, Razvan continues to conduct research, blog, and educate, bridging cultures and inspiring technological progress while consistently sharing his findings and insights. He collaborates with leading tech companies, contributes to open-source projects, and is dedicated to fostering ethical standards and inclusivity in technology, ensuring a future where advancements benefit everyone.
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