Google just launched this "Project Genie" model that allows users to create interactive worlds using a couple lines of prompt.
This uses artificial intelligence, a world model, from what I've read and while reading the report, all I could really think of was:
Did Google just launch the Metaverse?
Yes, I know, the original idea behind the Metaverse is that it would run on blockchains, but at the same time, nobody said that the individual universes will be decentralized, in fact, what would make it a sovereign tech would be that individuals are allowed to customize their universes as they wish.
I've only really significantly began following up AI developments recently and one thing I've come to realize is that Google may have been playing it safe by allowing ChatGPT launch first into fame.
Google has always had the advantage in data and a lot more, anyone who thinks otherwise isn't paying attention.
Take Meta (Facebook's parent) for instance, their social platforms is home to over 4 billion people but look how poorly they are measuring up to others in the AI race.
Social platforms for the most part are junkyards. Google on the other hand has had access to better data, probably well labeled, collected over the years.
From Search, from maps, from billions of Android users, from YouTube, a lot of good stuff. If Google came out first with Generative AI, it probably would risk being teared up due to monopolization concerns.
The Metaverse has always been a consumer-facing product, but the crypto ecosystem did not have the tech to enable it at scale.
With artificial intelligence, the Metaverse hype may make a comeback, and the good news is that this time, much of the focus will be on making the product monetizable.
Project Genie let's you create interactive worlds, this sets the stage for individuals and businesses to develop solutions around this world models, where users can build games, cities and worlds and monetize them.
There are couple of potential benefits here. Businesses can build virtual representations of their products and locations, enabling customers to be able to visit, explore and make purchase decisions without leaving the comfort of their home and also not being disappointed when the product arrives because they've already virtually seen and understood what to expect.
Well, one thing with software is that when there's a known possibility that something could work, people will take initiatives to build alternatives.
From where I stand, I'm betting on decentralized replication of this overtime, which would make way for the web3 ecosystem to build several consumer solutions with.
It is truly quite the news that Google could be the reason the Metaverse hype makes a comeback, all thanks to AI.
I guess the convergence of AI and blockchain is indeed a match made in heaven?
