Metaverse is often misunderstood. People think of it as a virtual world. But, what if the metaverse is not a place, but a concept of time?
In technology, singularity describes a hypothetical future where artificial intelligence supersedes humans. The concept has long been a topic of debate and fascination within the scientific and technological communities as it is predicted to have profound and potentially disastrous consequences for humanity. Some say it could lead to the rise of super-intelligent AI capable of outthinking and potentially outmaneuvering its human creators.
“With buzz around the metaverse and its consequential hand in pivoting the internet growing, the idea of singularity takes on even greater significance as it has the potential to fundamentally alter the way we experience and interact with the digital world.”
In the context of the metaverse, singularity doesn’t merely engender AI becoming self-aware, it refers to the exact moment when the virtual world becomes indistinguishable from the real world. This would mean that the experiences and interactions within the metaverse would be indistinguishable from those in the physical world, effectively blurring the line between the two.
Similarly, metaverse is often misunderstood. People think of it as simply a virtual world, akin to what is depicted in movies like Ready Player One and The Matrix. But what if the metaverse is not a place, but a concept of time?
Suspended reality
Over the past two decades, there has been a substantial shift towards digitalisation in nearly every aspect of life. This change did not happen overnight. It was rather a gradual evolution. Today, we have moved to working remotely with the advent of computers and virtual meeting softwares; social media is where we make and connect with friends and like-minded individuals - LinkedIn being the prime example. Even recreational activities such as playing games have gone online – today, more kids play Grand Theft Auto than football and basketball combined. Additionally, our online identities, as represented by our social media profiles and posts, have become increasingly germane. Our virtual avatars hold as much (if not more) importance as our real-life appearance.
Our assets and possessions are moving online too with digital currencies. These days, virtual items like NFTs and gaming skins are more valuable and sought after than luxury items or designer clothing. Bored Apes are the new Rolex, Fortnight skins are the new Dior.
And this realm enmeshed between reality and virtual will only get more tangled as we spend more and more time in the digital domain.
Whether we are prepared for it or not, we are in the era of the metaverse. Work is on to integrate it into our daily lives with tech like augmented reality glasses that facilitate spending longer hours in the digital realm given their ease of use.
With the chasm getting narrower, the possible coalescing of singularity and the metaverse poses significant implications on the future of technology and the role it will play in our lives. As the metaverse becomes more immersive and realistic, it will make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and virtual, blurring the lines between our sense of identity and self, as well as the way we interact with and understand the world around us.
While the concept of singularity in the metaverse is still in its early stages, it is clear that it has the potential to fundamentally alter the way we experience and engage with the digital world.
Is it good or bad? Like every breakthrough in technology, it’s neither as well as both.
What’s matters is that it’s important and here to stay.
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