Our Social Meta
When Mark Zuckerberg and his team announced that Facebook is being folded into an organization called Meta, similar to how Google folded its primary product under Alphabet, much emphasis was placed on the metaverse and Mark’s plans for such a digital universe, particularly in relation to Meta’s Oculus virtual reality headset. Given Mark’s expertise in social networking and his success with Facebook and Instagram, it made sense for him to shift his organization's attention to another area of growth within social networking.
The metaverse, as it's termed, envisions a vast digital universe where our primarily two-dimensional digital avatars receive a new three-dimensional upgrade—a fusion of social networking, gaming, as if we are to overlook the existence of platforms like Second Life that is as old as Facebook itself.
Mark’s vision of the metaverse future appear shortsighted, as it lacked depth in considering the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential for social networking beyond the digital realm. AI presents opportunities surpassing even virtual reality alternatives like augmented reality, given its capacity to process the vast amounts of data humans generate and encounter daily. This perspective reshapes ideas of social networking within our physical world, particularly evident as Meta introduces its Meta AI models across platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Looking beyond the deployment of these Large Language Models, there's a significant opportunity to shift focus away from the metaverse and towards our physical universe, where the concept of our social meta truly takes shape.
Before proceeding, I must address the notion of a future where we all control digital versions of ourselves, or "digital twins." This concept poses challenges, potentially exacerbating inequalities due to uneven access to the digital world and its tools. Even if initially offered for free, access to digitally powered machines such as smartphones, humanoid robots, and robotaxis will be crucial for fostering a just society. If not, some of us may not exist much less be represented in this digital universe.
When considering access to these technologies and personal engagement with them, new opportunities arise, extending beyond surveillance or pessimistic applications. It requires intention to envision a just and equitable society, rejecting certain applications now to shape a future we all desire—one where decisions are informed by data, real-time information, and historical context, allowing everyone to make educated choices for mutual benefit.
My vision of the digital future, particularly our social meta, diverges from the current paradigm. It emphasizes humanity working harmoniously with nature, leveraging advanced technologies and the real time data in our natural world for a sustainable future for everyone while preserving the environment.
As my thoughts evolve alongside technological progress, it's essential for humanity to collectively monitor and guide the development and deployment of these technologies, even if it means rejecting certain advancements due to their impact on natural resources, our environments, and humanity.
This endeavor necessitates significant shifts in education, extending beyond STEM and STEAM to form the foundation of our educational system through comprehensive reforms.
We should not wait for the discovery of other life forms in our vast universe or conflicts between Earth and future lunar inhabitants to unite us here on earth. I think our social meta provides us with a common ground for the future of humanity. Let's contemplate the future together now.
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