According to a recent blog post, the company plans to continue to rely on synthetic data (constructed data that is used to mimic user behaviour) and differential privacy to improve features like email summaries, without gaining access to personal emails or messages.

For users who opt in to Apple’s Device Analytics program, the company’s AI models will compare synthetic email-like messages against a small sample of a real user’s content stored locally on the device. The device then identifies which of the synthetic messages most closely matches its user sample, and sends information about the selected match back to Apple. No actual user data leaves the device, and Apple says it receives only aggregated information.

The technique will allow Apple to improve its models for longer-form text generation tasks without collecting real user content. It’s an extension of the company’s long-standing use of differential privacy, which introduces randomised data into broader datasets to help protect individual identities. Apple has used this method since 2016 to understand use patterns, in line with the company’s safeguarding policies.

Improving Genmoji and other Apple Intelligence features

The company already uses differential privacy to improve features like Genmoji, where it collects general trends about which prompts are most popular without linking any prompt with a specific user or device. In upcoming releases, Apple plans to apply similar methods to other Apple Intelligence features, including Image Playground, Image Wand, Memories Creation, and Writing Tools.

For Genmoji, the company anonymously polls participating devices to determine whether specific prompt fragments have been seen. Each device responds with a noisy signal – some responses reflect actual use, while others are randomised. The approach ensures that only widely-used terms become visible to Apple, and no individual response can be traced back to a user or device, the company says.

Curating synthetic data for better email summaries

While the above method has worked well with respect to short prompts, Apple needed a new approach for more complex tasks like summarising emails. For this, Apple generates thousands of sample messages, and these synthetic messages are converted into numerical representations, or ’embeddings,’ based on language, tone, and topic. Participating user devices then compare the embeddings to locally stored samples. Again, only the selected match is shared, not the content itself.

Apple collects the most frequently-selected synthetic embeddings from participating devices and uses them to refine its training data. Over time, this process allows the system to generate more relevant and realistic synthetic emails, helping Apple to improve its AI outputs for summarisation and text generation without apparent compromise of user privacy.

Available in beta

Apple is rolling out the system in beta versions of iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, and macOS 15.5. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is attempting to address challenges with its AI development in this way, problems which have included delayed feature rollouts and the fallout from leadership changes in the Siri team.

Whether its approach will yield more useful AI outputs in practice remains to be seen, but it signals a clear public effort to balance user privacy with model performance.

(Photo by Unsplash)

See also: ChatGPT got another viral moment with ‘AI action figure’ trend

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Michael Smith, 52, from North Carolina, faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

According to the BBC, authorities allege that this is the first time AI has been used to allow such a large-scale streaming scam. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasised the scope of the fraud, claiming that Smith took millions of dollars in royalties that should have gone to real musicians, songwriters and rights holders.

The accusations stem from an unsealed indictment alleging that Smith distributed hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs across multiple streaming platforms. To avoid detection, automated bots streamed the tracks—sometimes up to 10,000 at a time. Smith allegedly earned more than $10 million in illegal royalties over several years.

The FBI played a crucial role in the investigation. The agency’s acting assistant director, Christie M. Curtis, explained that the agency was dedicated to tracking down those who misuse technology to rob people of their earnings while simultaneously undermining the efforts of real artists.

According to the indictment, Smith began working with the CEO of an undisclosed AI music firm around 2018. This co-conspirator allegedly provided Smith with thousands of AI-generated tracks each month. In exchange, Smith offered metadata such as song titles and artist names, and offered a share of streaming earnings.

One email exchange between Smith and the unnamed CEO in March 2019 demonstrates how the plot took shape. The executive stated, “Keep in mind what we’re doing musically here…this is not ‘music,’ [but] ‘instant music’).” The email emphasises the operation’s intentional nature, as well as the use of AI to generate large amounts of content with minimal effort. According to the indictment, the technology improved over time, making it harder for streaming platforms to detect fraudulent streams.

In another email dated February, Smith boasted that his AI-generated tracks had accumulated over 4 billion streams and $12 million in royalties since 2019. If convicted, Smith faces significant prison time for the charges brought against him.

The Smith case is not the only one involving bogus music streaming royalties. Earlier this year, a Danish man received an 18-month term for a similar plan. Music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube forbid bots and artificial streams from being used to boost royalties. Such behaviour is disruptive and illegal, and platforms have taken steps to combat it through policy changes. For instance, if artificial streams are detected, Spotify charges the label or distributor and music can earn royalties only if it meets certain criteria.

Nevertheless, the proliferation of AI-generated music continues to disrupt the music industry. Musicians and record companies fear they will lose revenue and recognition due to AI tools capable of creating music, text and images. Such tools reportedly sometimes use content that musicians and other creators have posted on the internet, raising questions about copyright infringement.

Tension came to a head in 2023 when a track that mimicked the voices of popular artists Drake and The Weeknd went viral, prompting streaming platforms to remove it. Earlier this year, several high-profile musicians, including Billie Eilish, Elvis Costello and Aerosmith, signed an open letter urging the music industry to address the “predatory” use of AI to generate content.

(Photo by israel palacio)

See also: Whitepaper dispels fears of AI-induced job losses

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Instead of employing Nvidia’s GPUs for its artificial intelligence software infrastructure, Apple will use Google chips as the cornerstone of AI-related features and tools set to launch soon.

The fact that Apple chose to use Google’s cloud infrastructure is quite interesting because Nvidia has already captured this market, bringing Google, Amazon.com, and other cloud computing companies to 80% of the overall share. Therefore, it seems to be a smart strategic move by Apple to use an alternative source to minimise its hardware dependency.

Apple has never revealed that it is avoiding Nvidia chips in any way. However, a statement in a research paper detailing the hardware and software infrastructure powering the company’s AI tools and features is raising eyebrows. This description conspicuously lacks any reference to Nvidia chips. When asked about this, Apple chose not to respond, leaving industry analysts to make educated guesses.

According to the paper, Apple’s AI model training process leverages two distinct varieties of Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs), organised in expansive clusters of chips. When the tech giant Google prepared to build its new AI model, designed to operate on iPhones and other products offered by the company, it began deploying no fewer than 2,048 of its advanced TPUv5p chips. An even more significant part of developing the server-side for this model involved no fewer than 8,192 TPUv4 processors.

Google’s decision to use TPUs contrasts with Nvidia’s focus on GPUs, which are now practically synonymous with machine learning development. Making the choice even more interesting, Google’s TPUs are not only different by design, but also by access. Unlike Nvidia’s products – which are available independently of other providers – Google only leases TPUs through the Google Cloud Platform, forcing customers to develop their software with the help of Google’s cloud to take advantage of them.

Apple revealed this information just as it started rolling out its Apple Intelligence abilities to beta users. Currently, its developer beta program – which gives app creators an early preview of future software versions – incorporates a variety of AI-powered features. First and foremost, the use of its Writing Tools is now enhanced. Users may find an improved iteration of Siri, which now understands text as well as voice. AI alternatives can also be used for Mail and Smart Replies, thanks to email summarisation. As a bonus, beta testers can now transcribe their dictations with the assistance of AI.

Based on real-world usage and feedback, Apple will be able to improve its AI features – such as ChatGPT integration – as well as expand the functionality of Siri to interact with third-party apps. Allowing users to familiarise themselves with the AI and provide feedback, this strategy will enable the corporation to make an optimal general release in the fall.

Even though Reuters reported in June about Apple using TPU chips, the full scope of the use of Google hardware by the company would have remained unknown were it not for Monday’s detailed research. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Apple’s engineers claimed to have the potential to develop even more significant and complex models with Google’s chips—suggesting that the current implementation is only the beginning of Apple’s AI projects.

This news comes a week after Apple held its annual developer conference in June, where the firm revealed a range of new AI capabilities, including the incorporation of OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology into the Apple software ecosystem. There was widespread euphoria in the tech space, with some seeing it as proof positive of Apple’s commitment to the future, blending ambiance with the latest technological trends.

Despite the significance of this news, Apple’s stock showed only a marginal reaction, ticking down 0.1% to $218.24 in regular trading on Monday. This muted response may indicate that investors are taking a wait-and-see approach to Apple’s AI strategy, particularly given the company’s historical tendency to enter new technological landscape deliberately, and with polished offerings.

(Photo by Medhat Dawoud)

See also: NVIDIA and Meta CEOs: Every business will ‘have an AI’

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This decision from Meta comes on the heels of Apple’s similar move to exclude the EU from its Apple Intelligence rollout, signalling a growing trend of tech giants hesitating to introduce advanced AI technologies in the region.

Meta’s latest multimodal AI model – capable of handling video, audio, images, and text – was set to be released under an open license. However, Meta’s decision will prevent European companies from utilising this technology, potentially putting them at a disadvantage in the global AI race.

“We will release a multimodal Llama model over the coming months, but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment,” a Meta spokesperson stated.

A text-only version of Meta’s Llama 3 model is still expected to launch in the EU.

Meta’s announcement comes just days after the EU finalised compliance deadlines for its new AI Act. Tech companies operating in the EU will have until August 2026 to comply with rules surrounding copyright, transparency, and specific AI applications like predictive policing.

The withholding of these advanced AI models from the EU market creates a challenging situation for companies outside the region. Those hoping to provide products and services utilising these models will be unable to offer them in one of the world’s largest economic markets.

Meta plans to integrate its multimodal AI models into products like the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. The company’s EU exclusion will extend to future multimodal AI model releases as well.

As more tech giants potentially follow suit, the EU may face challenges in maintaining its position as a leader in technological innovation while balancing concerns about AI’s societal impacts.

(Photo by engin akyurt)

See also: AI could unleash £119 billion in UK productivity

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Samsung, which pioneered the foldable smartphone segment in 2019, faces increasing competition in this niche market. Data from Canalys shows that Samsung’s share of foldable phone shipments dropped from 81% in 2022 to 63% in 2023, highlighting the importance of this latest launch.

Responding to market pressures, Samsung has made significant improvements to its foldable lineup:

1. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, featuring a wide screen, is now the lightest and slimmest version in its series, aimed at attracting new customers to the form factor.
2. The clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 6 boasts longer battery life, a higher resolution camera, and a new vapour chamber for improved cooling. These enhancements address key issues identified through customer feedback.

Despite rising material costs and after maintaining stable prices for three years, Samsung has implemented a modest price increase. The Z Flip 6 is priced at $1,099.99, while the Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899.99, representing a $100 increase over last year’s models.

Samsung has introduced several new AI-powered features, including:

• A “listening mode” that provides simultaneous voice interpretation when paired with Galaxy Buds earphones.
• Collaboration with Google to develop new AI search functions, such as displaying step-by-step solutions to math problems when circled on the screen.

The company has also significantly enhanced its Galaxy Watch products:

• A new 3-nanometer chip triples application booting and processing efficiencies compared to last year’s model.
• The watch has received US FDA approval as a monitoring device for sleep apnea.
• New features include measurement of functional threshold power (FTP) for cycling enthusiasts and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) related to diabetes.

Samsung’s commitment to health monitoring is further exemplified by the introduction of the Galaxy Ring. Priced at $399.99, this smart ring comes in gold, silver, and black, featuring a titanium frame with 10ATM water resistance and an IP68 rating. At 7mm wide and 2.6mm thick, it’s designed to be slim and lightweight, weighing between 2.3 and 3g depending on the size.

The Galaxy Ring primarily functions as a health tracker, equipped with an accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, and skin temperature sensor. It can monitor sleep, heart rate, and activity, while introducing new Galaxy AI-powered metrics such as Energy Score and Wellness Tips. The ring offers 6-7 days of battery life and comes with a unique, transparent charging case that holds 1.5 times the charge.

Industry analyst Jack Leathem from Canalys emphasises the importance of AI-powered health and fitness features in wearables, noting that they are “core to attracting brand switchers in the premium segment” and crucial for differentiating Samsung from other smartwatch vendors.

The Galaxy Ring is only compatible with Android phones running the Samsung Health app, with some features exclusive to Galaxy phones. A standout feature for Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 users (soon to be available on the S24) is the ability to control the phone’s camera or dismiss alarms using a double pinch gesture on the ring.

While the Galaxy Ring shows promise in hardware design and ecosystem integration, its success will ultimately depend on tracking accuracy and consistent battery performance. Samsung’s expansion into the smart ring market, coupled with its enhancements to foldable phones and smartwatches, demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovating across the wearable and smartphone sectors.

The new lineup of products – including the foldable phones, watches, and ring – will be available starting July 24 in South Korea, North America, and Europe, marking a significant step in Samsung’s strategy to innovate and compete in the high-end smartphone and wearable markets.

(Image Credit: Samsung)

See also: EU probes Microsoft-OpenAI and Google-Samsung AI deals

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According to a Bloomberg report on July 10, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter, Microsoft has officially communicated its withdrawal from the OpenAI board. This move comes approximately a year after the Redmond-based company made a substantial $13 billion investment in OpenAI in April 2023.

In a memo addressed to OpenAI, Microsoft stated: “Over the past eight months we have witnessed significant progress from the newly formed board and are confident in the company’s direction.” The tech giant added, “We no longer believe our limited role as an observer is necessary.”

Contrary to recent reports suggesting that Apple would secure an observer role on OpenAI’s board as part of a landmark agreement announced in June, it appears that OpenAI will now have no board observers following Microsoft’s departure.

Responding to these developments, OpenAI expressed gratitude towards Microsoft, stating, “We’re grateful to Microsoft for voicing confidence in the board and the direction of the company, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership.”

This retreat from board involvement by major tech players occurs against a backdrop of mounting regulatory pressure. Concerns about the potential impact of big tech on AI development and industry dominance have prompted increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies worldwide.

In June, European Union regulators announced that OpenAI could face an EU antitrust investigation over its partnership with Microsoft. EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager also revealed plans for local regulators to seek additional third-party views and survey firms such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, and ByteDance’s TikTok regarding their AI partnerships.

The decision by Microsoft and Apple to step back from board positions at OpenAI could be interpreted as a strategic move to mitigate potential regulatory challenges. By maintaining a more arm’s length relationship with the AI firm, these tech giants may be attempting to avoid accusations of undue influence or control over AI development.

Alex Haffner, a competition partner at Fladgate, said:

“It is hard not to conclude that Microsoft’s decision has been heavily influenced by the ongoing competition/antitrust scrutiny of its (and other major tech players) influence over emerging AI players such as Open AI.

Microsoft scored a ‘win’ in this regard at the end of June when the EU Commission announced it was dropping its merger control probe of Microsoft and Open AI, an investigation originally announced when Open AI re-shaped its board structure at the time of Sam Altman’s on-off departure from the company.

However, the Commission confirmed it was still looking at the competitive impact of the broader arrangements between the parties and it is clear that regulators are very much focussed on the complex web of interrelationships that big tech has created with AI providers, hence the need for Microsoft and others to carefully consider how they structure these arrangements going forward.”

As AI continues to play an increasingly critical role in technological advancement and societal change, the balance between innovation, competition, and regulation remains a complex challenge for both industry players and policymakers.

The coming months will likely see continued scrutiny of AI partnerships and investments, as regulators worldwide grapple with the task of ensuring fair competition and responsible AI development.

(Photo by Andrew Neel)

See also: Nvidia: World’s most valuable company under French antitrust fire

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The new arrangement – set to take effect later this year – will see Apple’s long-time marketing chief turned Apple Fellow, Phil Schiller, representing the company in this capacity.

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s position on the OpenAI board will mirror that of Microsoft—the AI company’s largest backer and primary technology provider.

While Schiller will be able to attend board meetings, he will not have voting power or other director privileges. However, this role will grant Apple valuable insights into OpenAI’s decision-making processes.

The partnership between Apple and OpenAI, announced at WWDC in June, will bring ChatGPT integration to iOS 18 as part of the Apple Intelligence suite of features.

Notably, this collaboration does not involve any financial exchange between the two companies. Apple reportedly views the exposure given to ChatGPT in iOS 18 as “of equal or greater value” than monetary compensation, while OpenAI benefits from the reach of Apple’s platforms.

Bloomberg’s report indicates that Schiller “hasn’t yet attended any meetings” of the OpenAI board, and “details of the situation could still change.” This cautious approach suggests that both companies are carefully navigating this new relationship.

Schiller’s appointment to this role is particularly noteworthy given his extensive experience and current responsibilities at Apple.

Since transitioning to an Apple Fellow role in 2020, Schiller has continued to lead the App Store and Apple events, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. He has also been at the forefront of Apple’s efforts to defend the App Store against global antitrust allegations.

By securing a seat at OpenAI’s table, even in an observer capacity, Apple positions itself to gain valuable insights into one of the leading AI research organisations.

(Photo by Daniel McCullough)

See also: EU probes Microsoft-OpenAI and Google-Samsung AI deals

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According to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, “Apple isn’t paying OpenAI as part of the partnership.”

Instead, the Cupertino-based company is leveraging its massive user base and device ecosystem as currency.

“Apple believes pushing OpenAI’s brand and technology to hundreds of millions of its devices is of equal or greater value than monetary payments,” Gurman’s sources explained.

Gurman notes that OpenAI could find a silver lining by encouraging Apple users to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, priced at $20 per month. If subscribers sign up through Apple devices, the iPhone maker will likely even claim a commission.

Apple’s AI strategy extends beyond OpenAI. The company is reportedly in talks to offer Google’s Gemini chatbot as an additional option later this year, signalling its intent to provide users with diverse AI experiences without necessarily having to make such major investments itself.

The long-term vision for Apple involves capturing a slice of the revenue generated from monetising chatbot results on its operating systems. This move anticipates a shift in user behaviour, with more people relying on AI assistants rather than traditional search engines like Google.

While Apple’s AI plans are ambitious, challenges remain. The report highlights that the company has yet to secure a deal with a local Chinese provider for chatbot features, though discussions with local firms like Baidu and Alibaba are underway. Initially, Apple Intelligence will be limited to US English, with expanded language support planned for the following year.

The Apple-OpenAI deal represents a novel approach to collaboration in the AI space, where brand exposure and technological integration are valued as much as, if not more than, direct financial compensation.

See also: Musk ends OpenAI lawsuit while slamming Apple’s ChatGPT plans

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Musk had initially sued OpenAI in March 2024, alleging breach of contracts, unfair business practices, and failure in fiduciary duty. He claimed that his contributions to the company were made “in exchange for and in reliance on promises that those assets were irrevocably dedicated to building AI for public benefit, with only safety as a countervailing concern.”

The lawsuit sought remedies for “breach of contract, promissory estoppel, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair business practices, and accounting,” as well as specific performance, restitution, and damages.

However, Musk’s filings to withdraw the case provided no explanation for abandoning the lawsuit. OpenAI had previously called Musk’s claims “incoherent” and that his inability to produce a contract made his breach claims difficult to prove, stating that documents provided by Musk “contradict his allegations as to the alleged terms of the agreement.”

The withdrawal of the lawsuit comes at a time when Musk is strongly opposing Apple’s plans to integrate ChatGPT into its operating systems.

During Apple’s keynote event announcing Apple Intelligence for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Musk threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies, calling the integration “an unacceptable security violation.”

Despite assurances from Apple and OpenAI that user data would only be shared with explicit consent and that interactions would be secure, Musk questioned Apple’s ability to ensure data security, stating, “Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.”

Since bringing the lawsuit against OpenAI, Musk has also created his own AI company, xAI, and secured over $6 billion in funding for his plans to advance the Grok chatbot on his social network, X.

While Musk’s reasoning for dropping the OpenAI lawsuit remains unclear, his actions suggest a potential shift in focus towards advancing his own AI endeavours while continuing to vocalise his criticism of OpenAI through social media rather than the courts.

See also: DuckDuckGo releases portal giving private access to AI models

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Stable Diffusion is an AI image generator similar to DALL-E. Users can input a text prompt and the AI will produce an image that’s often far better than what most of us mere mortals can do.

Apple is a supporter of the Stable Diffusion project and posted an update on its machine learning blog this week about how it’s improving the performance on Macs.

“Beyond image generation from text prompts, developers are also discovering other creative uses for Stable Diffusion, such as image editing, in-painting, out-painting, super-resolution, style transfer and even color palette generation,” wrote Apple.

“With the growing number of applications of Stable Diffusion, ensuring that developers can leverage this technology effectively is important for creating apps that creatives everywhere will be able to use.”

Apple highlights there are many reasons for people to want to run Stable Diffusion locally instead of a server, including:

• Safeguarding privacy — User data remains on-device.
• More flexibility — Users don’t require an internet connection.
• Reduced cost — Users can eliminate server-related costs.

Apple says that it has released optimisations to Core ML for Stable Diffusion in macOS 13.1 and iOS 16.2, along with code to help get started on M-based devices.

Following the optimisations, a baseline M2 Macbook Air can generate an image using a 50 inference steps Stable Diffusion model in under 18 seconds. Arguably more impressively, even an M1 iPad Pro can do the job in under 30 seconds.

The release also features a Python package for converting Stable Diffusion models from PyTorch to Core ML using diffusers and coremltools, as well as a Swift package to deploy the models.

Detailed instructions on benchmarking and deployment are available on the Core ML Stable Diffusion repo here.

(Image Credit: Apple)

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Ian Goodfellow is a renowned machine learning researcher. Goodfellow invented generative adversarial networks (GANs), developed a system for Google Maps that transcribes addresses from Street View car photos, and more.

In a departure note to his team at Apple, Goodfellow cited the company’s much-criticised lack of flexibility in its work policies.

Many companies were forced into supporting remote work during the pandemic and many have since decided to keep flexible working due to the recruitment advantages, mental/physical health benefits, lowering the impact of rocketing fuel costs, improved productivity, and reduced office space costs.

Apple planned for employees to work from the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, starting this month. However, following backlash, on Tuesday the company put the plan on hold—officially citing rising Covid cases.

Goodfellow already decided to hand in his resignation and head to a company with more forward-looking, modern working policies.

The machine learning researcher had worked for Apple since 2019. Prior to Apple, Goodfellow had previously worked for Google as a senior research scientist.

Goodfellow is now reportedly returning to Google, albeit to its DeepMind subsidiary. Google is currently approving requests from most employees seeking to work from home.

More departures are expected from Apple if it proceeds with its return-to-office mandate.

“Everything happened with us working from home all day, and now we have to go back to the office, sit in traffic for two hours, and hire people to take care of kids at home,” a different former Apple employee told Bloomberg.

Every talented AI researcher like Goodfellow that leaves Apple is a potential win for Google and other companies.

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70 percent of the 2,341 respondents across 30 business sectors picked AR as disrupting their industry most out of a selection of seven emerging technologies: AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, IoT, blockchain, and 5G.

Filipe Oliveira, Senior Analyst at GlobalData, commented: “This change in how people see AR will likely be long term, and not just a temporary blip. It is clear that people are warming towards the technology, even if they don’t believe that it will make a big difference tomorrow.” 

AI wins some ground back when it comes to confidence in the technology. 57 percent of the respondents believe that AI will live up to all of its promises compared to just 26 percent for AR.

Along those same lines, 31 percent believe “The technology is hyped, but I can see a use for it” for AI, while a huge 50 percent report the same for AR.

Apple’s decision to add a LiDAR sensor to its latest mobile devices was seen as an important step towards the mass adoption of AR. Excitement is also growing around so-called “metaverses” that converge virtually-enhanced physical reality with physically-persistent shared virtual spaces.

SenseTime, one of China’s leading AI companies, announced earlier this week that it had partnered with BilibiliWorld to create a metaverse. The experience leverages SenseTime’s AI and mixed reality technologies to enable players to enjoy role-playing games that seamlessly blend reality with virtuality.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently said the company “will effectively transition from people seeing us as primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company”. As the owner of Oculus, Zuckerberg’s plans for the future of Facebook will likely make people think of a large virtual space similar to that depicted in Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One novel and the 2018 film adaptation.

Some people have expressed concern about a large centralised company such as Facebook having control over such a potentially ubiquitous world and the content they consume. Many believe that an open-source decentralised version is vital:

Zuckerberg, for his part, claims that no one company will run the metaverse and it will be an “embodied internet” that is operated by many different players.

Decentraland is an early example of what a truly decentralised virtual space could look like. The platform makes use of a DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisation) to make policy decisions such as what content is allowed in addition to taking advantage of the NFT (Non-Fungible Token) trend to offer exclusive in-world items.

AR and AI are both important emerging technologies that can often go hand-in-hand, but it’s clear that the latter is losing its perspective among professionals as having the biggest impact on their industries over the coming years.

(Photo by My name is Yanick on Unsplash)

Want to find out more from executives and thought leaders in this space? Find out more about the Digital Twin World event, taking place on 8-9 September 2021, which will explore augmenting business outcomes in more depth and the industries that will benefit.

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