The objective of this platform is to bring together the resources of academic institutions and enterprises in China, strengthening research endeavors in metaverse-related fields. The metaverse refers to a virtual universe or collective virtual space that encompasses all virtual worlds, augmented reality, and virtual reality experiences. It is an interconnected digital realm where users can interact with each other and with computer-generated environments in real-time.
Nanjing, along with other Chinese cities, is competing to take a prominent position in the country's metaverse development. In February 2023, the city revealed its metaverse strategy, aiming to create a thriving industry with annual revenues surpassing $19.13 billion (135 billion yuan) by the close of 2025.
Chinese city launches govt-backed metaverse platform
The platform aims to consolidate the resources of academic institutions and enterprises in China and bolster research efforts in areas related to the metaverse.
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Nanjing City, the capital of Jiangsu Province in China, on May 22, inaugurated the China Blockchain Technology and Application Innovation Platform. This government-supported platform aims to foster and advance metaverse research and development across the country.
The newly established state-backed entity is led by the Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST). As per an announcement on NUIST's official social media account, the platform consists of founding members representing diverse academic institutions and blockchain-related companies throughout mainland China.
In the southern region of Nanjing, the city of Shanghai is actively pursuing its metaverse aspirations. The metropolis envisions its metaverse industry reaching an annual revenue of $49.6 billion (350 billion yuan) by 2025. Shanghai recently presented its initial collection of 20 metaverse use cases, covering diverse areas such as virtual healthcare diagnoses and digital recreations of the city's historic architectural landmarks.
Although China maintains strict regulations on cryptocurrencies and NFTs, the country acknowledges the transformative power of Web3 technologies, including the metaverse, in driving its digital economy.
In a recent report from local media, Wu Zhong-ze, the former deputy minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, highlighted the importance of expanding the use of the metaverse in various sectors, including education, commerce, healthcare and entertainment. He also emphasized the necessity of establishing industry standards for the metaverse."
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Blizzard and Adobe tap generative AI tools as ‘co-pilots’ for humans
The two tech firms say the goal of the generative artificial intelligence tools isn’t to replace humans but to help them.
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Generative artificial intelligence tools are being rolled out by tech firms Adobe and Activision Blizzard, though each claimed the AI tools are there to assist humans in creating content and will not replace jobs.
On May 23, graphic software giant Adobe launched “Generative Fill” which will allow users to “generate content from inside Photoshop with a text prompt.”
The same day, The New York Times reported that Allen Adham, chief design officer at gaming firm Activision Blizzard, told employees in an email last month that it’s exploring the use of an image-generating AI to assist in game design.
Adobe’s new tool is intended to be a “co-pilot” alongside humans rather than to replace graphic designers.
Andrew Guerrero, vice president of global insights at Blizzard, voiced a similar sentiment, saying that the goal for its AI tool — Blizzard Diffusion — “is to remove a repetitive and manual process and enable artists to spend more time on creativity.”
Meanwhile, Adobe’s Asia-Pacific director of digital media and strategy, Chandra Sinnathamby, told The Guardian on May 23 that its tool was “intended as a co-pilot to speed up the process rather than to replace graphic designers altogether.”
Sinnathamby said precautions had been implemented to avoid confusion over what humans have made versus those generated by AI. Artists who contributed stock photos are also paid when used by the AI, he said.
Adobe and Blizzard are not the only technology companies excited by generative AI.
Related: AI financial tools: A smart way to manage money or a risky experiment?
On May 23, Nikesh Arora, the chief of the cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks appeared on Mad Money with Jim Cramer to tout the benefits of generative AI for cybersecurity.
He declared its implementation will significantly increase efficiency and allow the company to “double in size within the next few years without having to proportionally scale employees.”
The developments come as ChatGPT creator OpenAI warned that in 10 years, “AI systems will exceed expert skill level in most domains” and called for increased government oversight of AI development.
Many have aired concerns of the potential job losses due to the advancement and adoption of AI while others have claimed otherwise, saying the technology could create a similar amount of new jobs to those that are lost.
Magazine: ‘Moral responsibility’: Can blockchain really improve trust in AI?
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