Robbie Williams to Appear in Virtual City LightCycle
The popular British pop singer Robbie Williams is set to make an appearance in the virtual city known as LightCycle. Built using Unreal Engine 5, LightCycle has become a part of the metaverse trend that is gaining momentum. Williams will join the platform upon its launch in the fourth quarter of this year. He believes that the metaverse offers a new market for music discovery, which is why he decided to get involved in virtual reality.
It’s worth noting that Williams formed a partnership with AI infrastructure provider Vertexlabs.uk, rather than directly with LightCycle. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed yet. While virtual reality-focused startups have collaborated with celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Lady Gaga, the metaverse still lacks certain features that could make it more immersive.
Metaverse Faces Challenges Despite Celebrity Collaborations
Although virtual reality has seen collaborations with celebrities, big companies remain skeptical about its readiness for mainstream adoption. For instance, The Walt Disney Co. recently cut employees from its consumer experiences unit, which was responsible for its metaverse strategies. It is unclear whether Disney has completely abandoned its plans for virtual reality.
In the meantime, NYU Stern’s Center for Business and Human Rights (CBHR) has emphasized the need for comprehensive privacy laws in the metaverse. The CBHR warns of significant privacy threats and potential abuse in virtual environments. Therefore, there is a growing concern regarding the erosion of privacy in the next iteration of the internet.
Hot Take: The Metaverse and Its Challenges
The metaverse continues to attract attention from celebrities like Robbie Williams who see it as an opportunity for music discovery. However, despite these endorsements, challenges remain for the metaverse’s widespread adoption. Big companies like Disney have expressed doubt and made significant cuts to their metaverse strategies. Additionally, concerns about privacy and abuse in virtual environments are growing. The NYU Stern CBHR stresses the need for comprehensive privacy laws to protect users in this evolving digital landscape. As the metaverse evolves, it must address these challenges to gain broader acceptance and ensure a safe and immersive experience for its users.
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