What is the Metaverse, exactly?

Why should anyone care about the metaverse? Expert Matthew Ball explains what it is, what it isn’t, and why it matters.
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By the end of the decade, the Metaverse could be worth between $6 trillion and $13 trillion. But what is it?
The Metaverse is not simply immersive virtual reality or a really cool video game. It's a combination of technologies that allows an unlimited number of users to experience real-time rendered, 3D virtual worlds synchronously and persistently.
It is difficult to predict how the Metaverse will evolve, just as it was nearly impossible to predict the emergence of Facebook during the era of Windows 95. The Metaverse will not replace the internet, but will build upon and extend it.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:22 - What the Metaverse is not
02:30 - 10-part definition of the Metaverse
02:56 - Part 1: Massively-scaled
03:23 - Part 2: Virtual worlds
03:51 - Part 3: 3D
04:26 - Part 4: Interoperable network
05:41 - Part 5: Real-time rendering
06:14 - Part 6: Synchronous
06:45 - Part 7: Persistent
08:00 - Parts 8 & 9: Unlimited users with individual sense of presence
08:22 - Part 10: Continuity of data
08:55 - Technological eras are bundles
09:17 - 7 subcategories of the Metaverse
09:27 - Subcategory 1: Hardware
09:45 - Subcategory 2: Networking
09:57 - Subcategory 3: Computer powers
10:13 - Subcategory 4: Virtual platforms
10:45 - Subcategory 5: Interoperability standards
11:05 - Subcategory 6: Payment rails
11:18 - Subcategory 7: CAIS
11:46 - 5 stunning Metaverse examples
13:08 - Why do we need to learn about it now?
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[@netdoom]

Matthew Ball, having deeply entrenched investments in metaverse-oriented ventures, isn't just observing the horizon; he's steering other companies in his portfolio towards it. Why? It's a fresh vertical, ripe for scaling and, of course, profit escalation. But let's pull back the curtain here: this 'new era' is an optimized playground for VCs to multiply their wealth. It's not merely about exploring digital frontiers but about tethering us to a system where our labor and leisure are commodified in unprecedented ways. We clock into the metaverse, entertain ourselves, all while lining the pockets of entities fixated on their next luxury yacht. This cycle isn't innovation - it's amplification of the same old capital game, just with new, immersive graphics. So, as public companies jostle to penetrate this lucrative 'metaverse market,' remember: it's not about pioneering the future; it's about monetizing a new dimension of your attention and effort. Keep grinding! Ok Freethink, I can speak just as good as him. Can you produce a video for me now?

[@ropro9817]

Exactly, the 'Metaverse' is just a billionaire's vision for how to make their next billions.

I for one, am looking for the new creative space. Can’t wait to explore art, architecture, design and fashion in VR. Nothing wrong making a buck out of either. Why would anyone be against new tech. Should we stop innovation here? Same thinking applies to AI. I say let’s put it to 11 and see what happens.

[@ropro9817]

You know where else there are 3D experiences? IN THE REAL WORLD.

[@user-ee8sk5px2v]

It is killing the soul and mind, moving to an imaginary world, addiction to imagination, and escaping reality.. It is the destruction of humanity and the human mind.

[@pirateparker]

whats real?????

[@masham3467]

Let's better go into the real world fixing our relationship and discovering ourselves rather than having one more way of escaping the reality and feeling even more isolated.

[@dertythegrower]

theShepherdess

[@bonitapersona]

This will certainly loop back like a pendulum. And I'm all in for this comeback of real life, anti-immediacy and anti-FOMO.

It has the capability to connect lonely people [in our cities]

[@juanmoraesx]

that’s what I’ve been saying

[@Charvak-Atheist]

Both things can be done simultaneously.

[@funkykong9001]

Ah, so the same Internet as today, but wearing VR goggles all day. No thanks.

[@pooglechen3251]

If the metaverse isn't open source, I'm not interested

[@sumofat4994]

CEO of some shitty metaverse company says Metaverse is not a place but a very vague abstract thing that is basically nothing. So yeah no and who cares.

[@dertythegrower]

💯

[@dertythegrower]

Keep dreaming buddy... it flopped.

[@ClipOfTheFail]

This will never pan out it's too expensive and everybodys too poor

[@Baraborn]

That's the REAL Reality 😂. Their selling to an ever shrinking group of people.

[@Conor_Tuohy]

I assure you, dear viewer, despite what your instincts may tell you - this video wasn't posted on April 1st. Freethink, you are better than this - or - at least you should be. Then again - if you were so easily taken in by these lines and this grift, maybe you aren't? I suspect that you made the deal to let this guy do a video long ago, and a contractual obligation still remained that you had to post this desperate CEO's video pitch at some point. Honestly, that's not a great look for you either - but it's at least a little more understandable. I really hope that's what happened. I'm a teacher, and I've shown your videos in class because there's a lot of great stuff there - but this lapse in judgement was so severe that it's making me question previous topics you have covered and videos you have made, and I'm questioning if I can in good conscience continue to show your work to minors. I was very, very close to unsubscribing right away - but I'm hoping that within your next few videos, you make a counterpoint video. Maybe get the help of Folding Ideas if you can? (Perhaps 'Did Folding Ideas cover this?' may be a useful metric on folk you decide to let use your channel... lest your next video suggest how Bed Bath and Beyond stock is about to really take off)

[@Gabykk]

introduction : THERES NO TURNING AROUND Yea I can just turn around right now 👌 by the way he's just talking about any piece of media rendered using a computer as 'The Metaverse', insisting you have to use bitcoin to go thru a giant empty virtual mall.

[@Newcenturion100]

Aren't we victims of enough illusions?

[@dertythegrower]

No. Bad ad.

[@MistCellaneous-5]

The main issue with the metaverse is that it tries its best to sell itself as a "essential luxury". Something that is to unaccessible but it's too important to not have. Obviously it's an oxymoron based on that definition. But my point is that it also treats itself as the only alternative when in reality there are plenty of other virtual reality games that emulate what it's trying to describe a whole lot more better... And obviously for free with the exception of the headsets. It also has an air of arrogance that the elite try to puke all over us in order to scam us. Its basically selling us air in a bottle when theres still trees around. (Yes i understand in reality thats more complicated but bare with comparison)

[@user-ee8sk5px2v]

Mataverse It is killing the soul and mind, moving to an imaginary world, addiction to imagination, and escaping reality.. It is the destruction of humanity and the human mind.

[@mikegLXIVMM]

Don't forget Second Life and Sansar.

[@user-jc5hl3hd1c]

Ever since zuck bought the rights to the phrase "metaverse" it was strangled in the crib. No one except zuck and his simps give a crap about the metaverse.

[@EricGranata]

Are we still talking about this? 😂

[@dmellofficials4623]

That’s the problem the public is ruining for comments and phrases and things like this we just need to shut up and let them work 👊🏾💯!

[@TheFPSChannel]

The Metaverse, as he describes in overly complicated and jargon filled ways, seems to be trying to will itself into existence without really answering the question: what the heck is it for? Anything we’re likely to want to use should serve a purpose. Solve problems, save time, entertain, explore. So many times people create these worlds but then they just become a time suck without any particular goal. Reminds me of The Sims where I found myself managing my sim’s life - working, maintaining friendships, buying crap for my house - it was stressful and felt too much like real life. Augmented reality promises to help me change a spark plug. AI promises to become an assistant that anticipates and creates what I need before I need it - possibly throw existing interfaces away. Metaverse promises me nothing I need or want. Why will the Metaverse be part of my life? Why do I want to go there? To be clear, not everything we create has an immediate and obvious purpose. The discovery of the electron did not make TV sets the obvious goal. Maybe it will change everything. But this guy doesn’t know how either.

[@andrewlesh8716]

Beautifully said!

[@clownlesscounty]

Ai walking robbery everyday

[@bign1667]

Not one mention about VRChat? How disappointing

[@hervymarquezgarcia1079]

I know?! VRChat is in my opinion, the closest thing we have to a metaverse, in that it's multiple connected digital worlds. FB's idea of metaverse is a soulless mockery of an already dystopic idea

[@mystuff9999]

My question is why we accept Zuck & friends to claim the term - and going forward, still use it instead of making a clear distinction between their sucky product and the content…

[@clownlesscounty]

Mountain dew equals ai and metaverse ✈ jackboy✈green😳

[@bonitapersona]

The big technological changes have always come from engineers, scientists and the market, not CEOs, snake-oil salesmans and futurologists. Just look at the papers and patents: there are plenty of big changes happening right now that can't be turned around, but "a metaverse" is not one of them. And by the way NFTs aren't, either.

[@getpodcasted]

Does anyone else feel he said nothing of value, there was never a point made.

[@reginaerekson9139]

5:45 until my browser can stop selling me/my info like a corner whore, I’ll save $3k on the elitist head seat to pay monthly tiered memberships to interact with randos in a cartoon world…. I’ll have to get DMT instead.

[@carinwiseman4309]

Geez, take the red pill.

[@clownlesscounty]

Bigger

[@ItzD3fW1sH]

Yeah no one cares about the metaverse. Graphics are beyond terrible by the way and it flopped. Let’s move on.

[@Shl0kk]

Puh-lease. Unless you jack in matrix style, the whole VR experience will never hit mainstream

[@youtubersdigest]

He talks kind of like a conspiracy youtuber

[@Retly_Ai]

This will become real once computers and humans combine. Not just wearing a vr headset.

[@Baraborn]

This sounds great! I'm sure a better country will pickup this tech and run with it.

[@tiago.alegria.315]

I think better than this is improving the human brain, adding new features, and download to the brain information, in particular science and ethics

[@tiago.alegria.315]

@@marcusdelta ethics is important to how to behave ,and do actions in particular to other animals including humans in particular the well being of all beings and in particular also humanity

[@c.f.3503]

Second

[@Eisenbison]

The Metaverse would be really cool if it could actually do any of the things they say it could MAYBE do one day. But it doesn't. It's a failed project that's lost over $40 billion and is less funtional than VRChat. Give up, Mark. Your pet project is dead on arrival.

[@NightWolf-rp3xs]

Metaverse is nonsense. I'd rather live in the real world. Its just a gimmick.😂😂😂

[@jamesheller2707]

Nice video guys, great work!

[@phd_sound]

What part?

[@jamesheller2707]

Interoperability part @@phd_sound

[@jamesheller2707]

First