Will generative AI’s popularity kill the metaverse?

Metaverse is being overshadowed by successes of generative AI, but experts said both technologies can still be used in different situations.

As generative AI gains ground across all industries, Janet Kang, managing partner at business consulting firm Mach49, said its successes may have overshadowed the use of the metaverse in the market.

However, she pointed out that this does not mean that the metaverse will be obliterated by AI. In fact, a lot of projects lie ahead using the two technologies, she said.

“I don’t think it’s one killing the other. In fact, [the technologies can] fit in a box in a lot of situations,” Kang told the audience at HubSpot’s INBOUND 2023 forum in Boston, Massachusetts recently.

Meanwhile, tech firm Beamable CEO Jon Radoff described generative AI as a social technology as it can help people occupy a space of AI models that have been cultivated from different cultures.

“Many forms of AI in which I’m learning, generative AI in particular, is a social technology that lets us happen to use knowledge. Just to that extent, it’s like reading books… It’s the fact that social technologies are consistently central to our lives,” he said during the same session.

Future of AI

More people use generative AI multiple times each day, but Radoff said the technology may need to be evolved in the future instead of mimicking the information people feed it with.

“I want AI models that learn from me, reflect my tastes and my interests, and have access to personal knowledge and data that I might not be willing to give to a central service provider,” Radoff said at the forum.

“Then, making these open source AI models accessible using microphones and personal computers. It's going to be important because then we can talk about having AI agents reflect us, act on our behalf, know everything about us, and keep that information private and work in our interests,” he added.

Immersive tools for marketers

Ben Harmanus, principal editorial lead at HubSpot’s New Media, proceeds to cap the forum with his last question on which tools can marketers use. In response, Radoff said a structured large language model should be followed when attracting consumers. That means chatting with customers several times daily.

He also suggested journaling, which marketers can do on a regular basis. It will also help marketers to create approaches to problem-solving.

Kang also cited generative AI to help marketers personalize experiences delivered to clients. The technology also helps with creating less boring copies when dealing with clients, added Kang.

“There are so many tools and AI tools to create such rich content. We’ve run out of excuses for boring content,” she said.