Will AI = Zuck’s Metaverse Winning Out?

TL;DR

• Last week we wrote about Roblox letting developers create in-game 3D objects using AI prompts, now it looks like Meta is following suit.

• Could this new edge in technology lead to a world where Zuck’s metaverse reigns supreme? Maybe…but he has competition from the Web3 world.

• Punk6529’s ‘OnCyber’ metaverse company has a lower barrier to entry, a greater long term value pitch, and a community that genuinely loves what they’re trying to achieve.

• But at the end of the day, none of the ‘feature vs. feature’ stuff really matters.

• Remember: the metaverse is just the internet, in 3D. Each of these plays from Meta and OnCyber can, and will, co-exist – if one wins, it doesn’t mean the other fails by default.

• Eventually, there will be millions of metaverse worlds to choose from, and the ‘winners’ will be those with the best user experiences.

Full Story

Remember last week, when we wrote about Roblox letting developers create in-game 3D objects using AI prompts?

E.g. ‘create me a red car that can fly’ then *bleep, bloop, bleep* the AI has coded it together for you and placed it in your game.

Yuh, well – they’re not the only ones dreaming up ways to create virtual worlds, using AI.

According to Decrypt:

“Meta expects generative AI to eventually be used to create virtual worlds in the metaverse.”

And if this has you thinking:

‘Uh-oh, could Meta actually get a leg up here? Everything they’ve done up until now kinda sucks, which has reassured me that the 3D virtual layer of the internet we call ‘the metaverse‘ will not be owned by a single company…could this new edge in technology change that??’

First: that’s so weird – we had a similar reaction!

Second: don’t hit the panic button just yet – as far as AI building tools go, Meta has competition (and it ain’t Roblox).

OnCyber is also leveraging AI tools to let its users tweak their 3D virtual creations without needing to code.

(If you haven’t heard of OnCyber, it’s a metaverse company headed up by famed NFT collector/Web3 nerd, Punk6529).

‘Ok, but pitting OnCyber against Meta feels akin to bringing a spork to a bazooka fight – Meta has SO MUCH more money to play with.’

Fair point, but before we get all down in the dumps, let’s stack them side-by-side and see if there isn’t any wiggle room here…

Meta:

• Requires a Facebook account (free) and a VR headset (~$350-1000).

• Is a closed platform, wholly owned by Meta – what you build there isn’t yours to own, it Meta’s. You rent it in exchange for your data.

• Tries to do a lot, but is pretty lackluster (at least for now).

• The upside: there’s billions of dollars being poured in to creating new and exciting experiences, every year.

OnCyber:

• Requires a web browser (free) and a crypto wallet (also free).

• Is an open permissionless platform, that anyone can build on – i.e. what you build is yours to own.

• Doesn’t try to do much – it’s mostly NFT galleries & virtual hang out spaces at the moment – and is pretty lackluster (at least for now).

• The upside: OnCyber is starting small, targeting Web3 die hards, and setting the groundwork for a system that lets anyone build and own their creations.

So, zooming out, what’s OnCyber’s edge?

They have a lower barrier to entry, a greater long term value pitch, and a community that genuinely loves what they’re trying to achieve.

…that said, they could absolutely be beaten out by Meta (as far as metaverse marketshare goes).

But here’s silver lining we’re constantly reminding ourselves of…

At the end of the day, none of this ‘feature vs. feature’ stuff really matters.

Remember: the metaverse is just the internet, in 3D. Each of these plays from Meta and OnCyber can, and will, co-exist – if one wins, it doesn’t mean the other fails by default.

In fact, think of visiting either world like visiting two different websites.

Eventually, there will be millions of metaverse worlds to choose from, and the ‘winners’ will be those with the best user experiences.