The Metaverse: A place to live, or Silicon Valley pipe dream?

“The Metaverse” is a term that defies easy definition. Even before you start to outline its features, you first have to ask if it’s the metaverse, a metaverse, or if it’s metaverses (plural) you’re discussing.

But regardless of how you define it, The Metaverse is creating waves in the tech sector. Several companies have put it at the center of their growth strategies – and, in the case of Facebook, even changed their name to include it. 

But what are the building blocks of a Metaverse? If it’s simply a collection of digital spaces, how is it different from a 3D film? And do you even need a VR headset to get there?

Michael Wade says what makes the Metaverse is immersion and participation, and Amit Joshi agrees, saying you can’t have one without the other. In episode three of Mike and Amit Talk Tech, these two award-winning professors ask how the Metaverse is developing, how much time we’ll spend using it, and whether companies will need a ‘Metaverse strategy’ to compete in tomorrow’s economy.

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Michael Wade is a Professor of Innovation and Strategy and Director of the IMD Global Center for Digital Business Transformation. He also holds the Cisco Chair in Digital Business Transformation. An expert in digital transformation, he has published 10 books and more than 100 case studies as well as articles on topics such as digital business transformation, innovation, strategy, and digital leadership.

Amit Joshi is a Professor of AI, Analytics, and Marketing Strategy. He specializes in helping organizations use artificial intelligence and develop their big data, analytics, and AI capabilities. An award-winning professor and researcher, he has extensive experience of AI and analytics-driven transformations in industries such as banking, fintech, retail, automotive, telecoms, and pharma.