Navigating the Evolving World of Blockchain and AI

Metaverse

LEADERS INSIGHT

Eddie Avil

Who did we interview?

Eddie Avil is an XR and future tech entrepreneur on a mission to make the world more equitable and decentralized. He hosts India's first AR/VR and future tech podcasts, XROM and The Ones Changing the World, and founded Immersion, the country's largest VR film festival. Through his work with XROM, he aims to bring the latest in XR to everyone, showing how technology can change the world for the better.

Eddie Avil

Let us quickly get to our expert's point of view.

• Ques 1 : What inspired you to get involved in the metaverse industry, and what are your personal goals and motivations in this space?

  Ans 1 : I was inspired to get involved in the metaverse industry after experiencing powerful VR content in 2016 called “GIANT," Directed by Milica Zec an immersive experience of a couple along with their baby girl stuck in their basement with full blown War taking place outside and getting closer to their home every second, it was a powerful experience which completely immersed me making me feel for the protagonists as VR allowed me to stand next to them in the basement, it was truly transformational and I knew that this tech has the potential to transform our world.

  My personal goal is to make a wider audience aware of the potential of XR and educate and evangelize about its benefits through my podcasts. I also aim to build XROM into a local and global powerhouse in the XR industry.

• Ques 2 : Are there any notable examples of successful metaverse projects or companies that you can share with our readers?

  Ans 2 : Meta (formerly Facebook) is a notable example as they have taken a big bet on making XR accessible to everyone by bringing down the prices of XR headsets. In India, Firebird VR's GuruVR library and FotonVR are democratizing education, Scapic along with Flipkart is transforming the retail industry with augmented reality applications, and Green Rain Studios is exploring the future of entertainment through virtual production. There are many more examples of companies leveraging XR to revolutionize various industries.

• Ques 3 : How do users interact with each other in the metaverse, and how are communities formed and managed?

  Ans 3 : Users in the metaverse interact and build communities similar to how they do on current web and social media platforms. However, the metaverse offers a more immersive and experiential environment. Users have their avatars and can communicate with other avatars. In the future, with AI integration, avatars may be capable of autonomous work and generating income for their users.

• Ques 4 : In your opinion, how will AI shape the development and evolution of the metaverse in the coming years?

  Ans 4 : The convergence of technology is reshaping the landscape, and the Metaverse is poised to become mainstream with advancements in miniaturization, leading to lighter and more powerful head-mounted displays (HMDs). When the Metaverse integrates with 5G, it will benefit from high throughput and low latency, resulting in a more immersive and lifelike experience. Web 3.0 is set to serve as the underlying economic layer for the Metaverse, driving us towards decentralization and unlocking new possibilities.

  AI will play a pivotal role by empowering creators and fueling the emerging creator economy. As AI avatars gain autonomy, they have the potential to become personal assistants, not only interacting on your behalf but also managing your business and work tasks.

• Ques 5 : Can you share examples of metaverse projects or companies that are pushing the boundaries of AI integration in virtual worlds?

  Ans 5 : On my XROM Podcast channel, there are episodes featuring Dr. Grieves, known as the father of digital twins, who is leveraging AI for better prediction and diagnostics. Naveen and MindverseAI are working on leveraging AI for XR healthcare plus AI Assistants for the Metaverse. These are just a few examples, and many more companies are pushing the boundaries of AI integration in virtual worlds.

• Ques 6 : Can you recommend resources or communities for individuals and organizations interested in exploring the metaverse further?

  Ans 6 : I recommend checking out my XROM Podcast (youtube.com/xrompodcast) and TOCTW Podcast (youtube.com/@toctwpodcast) to gain a better understanding of XR and future tech. Additionally, websites such as xrom.in, xrdi.in, and metaverse911.rs are great resources for exploring and learning more about the metaverse.

• Ques 7 : What is your long-term vision for the metaverse? How do you see it evolving over the next decade?

  Ans 7 : In the future, I envision a shift from our current reliance on flat/2D devices to XR head wearable devices or AI pins, enabling us to transform the entire world into our creative canvas. Physical assets will be digitized and interconnected through the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, and XR technologies.

  This integration will revolutionize sectors such as education, healthcare, and work, allowing for personalized experiences powered by AI and the metaverse. This transformation will not only enhance efficiency but also contribute to reducing carbon footprints and enabling remote collaboration. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the potential risks and downsides associated with technology, particularly when it falls into the wrong hands.