Metaverse Week丨The UK publishes a white paper on artificial intelligence regulation, outlining five governance principles; OpenAI adds plug-in support to ChatGPT to allow the use of third-party services
In recent years, with the rapid development and spread of emerging technologies, human society is experiencing an unprecedented technological revolution. In this day and age, the field of science and technology is becoming more and more important, and its influence is also growing.
The recently published white paper on AI regulation in the UK is a compelling example. The white paper aims to provide stricter regulations and regulations for artificial intelligence technology and ensure the protection of public safety and interests in relevant areas. This move shows that the government and regulators have begun to recognize the challenges and risks that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence pose to society, while also recognizing their huge potential and benefits.
Also, it is exciting news that Alibaba Cloud is opening a blockchain lab for game developers in Japan. This further proves that blockchain technology has broad application prospects in the game industry, which can improve the security and transparency of games and enhance user experience and loyalty.
The news that the IRS will levy a tax rate on NFT earnings has also drawn attention. As a form of digital art, NFTs are becoming an important market and investment area. However, this also poses tax issues. The practice of taxing NFT transactions may be controversial, but it also shows the government's awareness and concern about the application of emerging technology.
Of course, as emerging technologies continue to emerge, we also need to consider their negative impacts and risks on society and the economy. For example, the spread of artificial intelligence may cause a large number of laborers to lose their jobs, the misuse of blockchain may bring security risks, and the NFT trading bubble may cause the market to collapse. These problems also require the joint efforts of the government, enterprises and all sectors of society to resolve them.
Overall, the field of emerging technologies is showing a booming trend, and there are also huge challenges and risks. Only when governments, businesses, academics, and developers work together can we maximize the potential of emerging technologies and bring more welfare and wealth to human society.
The metaverse era is dawning, and we're looking forward to it. Here are the details of this weekly issue. Our Metaverse Mind divides it into two major sections: Important News and This Week's News List. Please enjoy:
METAVERSE
IMPORTANT NEWS
[UK releases white paper on AI regulation outlining five principles for AI governance such as ChatGPT]
The UK government has released a white paper on the regulation of the artificial intelligence industry, outlining five principles for AI governance such as ChatGPT. They are: security and robustness, transparency and interpretability, fairness, accountability and governance, and competitiveness, respectively. Over the next 12 months, regulators will issue practical guidelines to relevant organizations, as well as other tools such as risk assessment templates, to develop specific rules based on the five principles. Legislation will also be promoted in Parliament to enact specific artificial intelligence bills.
[Alibaba Cloud opens blockchain lab for game developers in Japan]
On March 27, according to official information, Alibaba Cloud will launch a blockchain lab in Shibuya in April this year. The lab will be set up in collaboration with game and VR content development company Skeleton Crew Studio. Developers have direct access to Alibaba Cloud's Web3 partners such as Safeheron, blockchain infrastructure nodeReal, and extended solution COCOS-BCX. Alibaba Cloud will also host regular events, including a Web3 global hackathon called HaPaton 2023 and a blockchain gaming hackathon.
[The IRS may levy a 28% tax rate on NFT earnings]
The US IRS is developing rules to tax NFTs, and long-term capital gains from NFTs classified as collectibles may be subject to a tax rate of 28%, which is higher than 20% of other capital assets. The notice states, “The Treasury Department and the IRS are considering the extent to which digital files can constitute 'works of art'.” Feedback on the issues listed in the notice will also influence how regulators define “any work of art.” Popular NFT collectibles, such as Bored Ape Yacht Club and Crypto Punks, are likely to be classified as collectible art, and holders of these NFTs may be subject to higher long-term capital gains taxes when sold.
[Google is trying to innovate for Web3]
James Tromans, head of Google Cloud Platform Web3, said on the podcast about whether some new products can be added to actually solve the specific needs of the cryptocurrency community or other companies in the future? He mentioned the company's thoughts on this issue, but it's now on the brink of construction. Last year, the company launched Google Cloud's blockchain node engine to help web3 developers build and deploy new products on blockchain-based platforms, and it also announced a cloud partnership with Coinbase.
[OpenAI is adding plug-in support to ChatGPT to allow the use of third-party services]
On March 24, OpenAI announced that it is adding support for plug-ins to ChatGPT. Plugins are tools specially designed for language models with security as the core principle, which can help ChatGPT access the latest information, run calculations, or use third-party services on the Internet. OpenAI has released the first list of ChatGPT plugins, created by Expedia, FiscalNote, Instacart, KAYAK, Klarna, Milo, OpenTable, Shopify, Slack, Speak, Wolfram, and Zapier. OpenAI said it will begin extending access to the Alpha plug-in to waitlisted users and developers. The search plugin allows ChatGPT to search a database of content vectors and add the best results to the ChatGPT session. This means it doesn't have any external impact, and the main risks are data authorization and privacy.
[HTC VIVE will launch VIVERSE SDK, a toolset for developers]
HTC VIVE recently announced the upcoming launch of the VIVERSE SDK, a toolset for developers, including Avatar, Scene, Market, Account, Social, etc., that can be used to build unique, interactive, and interoperable experiences across mobile, PC, XR, or web apps. In addition to providing developers with these tools, the VIVERSE SDK will also enable more flexible integration, which is HTC's metaverse version and vision, which is built around the principles of openness and interoperability. HTC says its VIVERSE platform enables people to create, learn, socialize, work, and play with others in a universe where immersive experiences are shared.
[Shanghai Huangpu issued relevant documents to provide financial support for technical research projects in key fields such as metaverse, blockchain, and AI]
The Shanghai Huangpu District Science and Technology Commission and the Huangpu District Finance Bureau issued the “Huangpu District Policy Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Digital Industry”. The opinions state that they support the agglomeration of digital industries and create an industrial innovation ecosystem. Support the empowerment of digital technology and expand the application of digital scenarios. District-level support will be provided at a maximum of no more than 1:1 for projects receiving the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's artificial intelligence industry innovation mission list, etc. (in fields related to information technology), etc. (in fields related to information technology), etc., with a maximum of no more than 2 million yuan. In line with the development direction of the region's digital industry, independent research or joint industry-university-research in key fields such as artificial intelligence, integrated circuit design and manufacturing, metaverse, software and algorithms, quantum computing, next-generation networks, blockchain, etc. After review, one-time support is provided at no more than 30% of the total project investment, at a maximum of no more than 2 million yuan.
[Vancouver International Airport signs memorandum of understanding with Unity to bring airport digital twins to the global market]
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) recently announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Unity to bring the airport's digital twin platform to the wider aviation market so that other airports can advance their own digital transformation. YVR's digital twin, the first major product of the YVR Innovation Center, was launched in 2021. It is a human-centered technology that powers the future through innovative and sustainable technology solutions. According to YVR, digital twins are a powerful tool that facilitates optimization, future planning, simulation, training, testing, etc. by aggregating and visualizing data from different sources. By integrating sensors, historical, and real-time data into the platform, digital twins help strategically present critical information in 2D and 3D to enable data-driven decision-making and collaboration. YVR will also provide training opportunities for Masquin students through the Unity Certification Program, which aims to advance future career placements in the digital twins and gaming industry. Over the next few months, YVR said it will work closely with airports and industry partners to advance digital twin technology and make it available to partners in Canada and around the world.
[Migu attended the first CBA Business Summit to explore metaverse technology practices]
The first CBA Business Summit was successfully held during the Xiamen All-Star Weekend event. During the forum, Yan Zhongwei, deputy general manager of China Mobile Migu Company, was invited to attend the forum as a strategic partner of CBA's digital media strategy and exclusive partner for 5G+ scenarios. Under the theme “Exploration and Practice of the Digital Intelligence Sports Metaverse”, China Mobile Migu shared China Mobile's pioneering experiments in the digital sports metaverse. “Digitalization” is one of the most definitive global trends in the next ten years, and it is imperative to accelerate the integration of sports and digital intelligence industries. According to reports, during the 2023 CBA All-Star Tournament, China Mobile Migu created “Watch CBA All-Stars in the Metaverse” and further expanded the new gameplay of watching the game through a panoramic live broadcast integrating numbers and reality. In the future, there will be more applications to the sports metaverse.
METAVERSE
This week's news at a glance
VR, AR, MR
Snap established an AR Enterprise Services division to sell its AR technology to enterprise customers for the first time.
Nreal Air AR glasses will support Windows.
Rokid also released new products such as AR glasses.
The UAE will launch an unmanned racing league using VR and AR technology.
Apple has shown mixed reality headsets to 100 executives and will debut at WWDC in June this year.
VR live broadcast, NOLO led the audience to watch the CBA game in an immersive way.
Meta has released two new Quest development tools to quickly achieve high-fidelity haptics.
MESON develops interactive AR metaverse collaboration platform “arium”.
NTT KonoQ and Sharp have formed a joint venture to develop XR devices.
Apple's new patent shows eye tracking and hand tracking functions, and is compatible with XR headsets, iPads, and other devices.
Sanli Spectrum's “Development of polarizers for VR headsets folding optical path systems” has been completed.
Vizrt will partner with ROE Visual to provide XR live broadcasts for NAB 2023.
Verect collaborates with Innosimulation to advance XR virtual training technology.
TD Bank (TD) recently announced the launch of a variety of immersive experiences using VR to provide interaction for customers and colleagues.
8th Wall introduces sky effects and world tracking capabilities to its WebAR development platform.
Samsung collaborates with APS Holdings to develop FMM and plans to join the Apple MR headset supply chain.
Quest Pro adds local dimming to PC VR, with obvious results.
The IEEE VR 2023 Metaverse Industry Forum was held in Lujiazui to discuss metaverse development.
XR technology will play an important role, and the US Department of Defense is seeking solutions to energy demand.
“Rec Room” launched a full-body tracking feature on the SteamVR platform.
ARUVR will open the largest AR/VR training center at City University London.
Adventure VR collaborates with JD Technology to jointly create XR digital intelligent growth.
ARCANA, an AR multiplayer D&D game, was launched and supports mobile phones and AR glasses.
iXRLabs is partnering with the Indian Institute of Technology to explore VR higher education.
NFT/chain game
NEAR announced a partnership with WEMADE.
Giants Network launches zTimes gaming brand on GDC.
Infura has opened its NFT API and SDK to all users.
Doodles 2 wearable device NFT “Genesis Box” opened on March 31.
zkMeta collaborates with Polygon to explore the new vertical gaming circuit Layer2 ecosystem.
Oasys collaborated with SBI VC Trade to introduce an innovative wallet solution for Japanese chain games.
The NFT platform Mooar has partnered with the shooter chain game Matr1x.
Revolving Games is developing a chain game based on the Overlord NFT project.
Chain game publisher Fenix Games has partnered with Polygon to support its Web3 game portfolio.
The NFT marketplace Escher launched the limited-edition NFT series “Escher Exclusives” and launched on March 30.
Fashion brand Diesel and the Hape community have teamed up to launch a wearable NFT airdrop.
Moonbirds holders already have access to Phantom cross-chain wallets.
Luxury giant Gucci has reached a partnership with Yuga Labs or will participate in Otherside this week.
METAX has launched a new monster fighting game for all.
Decentraland hosted the 2nd Annual Metaverse Fashion Week from March 28th to 31st.
The DeGods project is scheduled to migrate to the Ethereum mainnet on March 31.
Adidas launches ALTS by Adidas casting.
Binance AI NFT generator Binance Bicasso officially launched.
French luxury brand Balmain launches NFTs.
Mocaverse launches partner support service Mocana Odyssey.
The UK Treasury cancels the publication of government-backed NFTs.
Jenkins The Valet released a snapshot of licensed BAYC holders on March 31.
Otherside launches 2D strategy game LOTM and introduces a new NFT series.
Nippon Telecom operator KDDI joins the gaming blockchain OASYS.
Y00ts has opened up migration to Polygon for NFT holders.
Kraken partners with Formula 1 Williams Racing.
Axie Infinity announces Origins S3 as the final stage of Mystic Era
OpenSea has hinted that it will support Solana NFT trading next month.
BAYC reveals HV-MTL mecha NFT type.
Nearly 80% of Y00TS series NFTs have migrated to Polygon.
The NFT certification protocol Wakweli has partnered with Polygon to provide a certificate of asset authenticity.
Paulygon, a Polygon-based community-building experimental NFT project, is about to launch.
The Art Blocks website introduces a secondary marketplace feature that enforces royalties.
Candy Digital launched a new MLB NFT unaffected by Fanatics' divestment.
NFTGo officially launched the NFT rarity model Gorarity and open-sourced the core algorithm.
Avalanche launches the NFT program Avarence, which covers artist residency programs and the NFT curation DAO.
South American Airlines uses TravelX's NFTickets on the Algorand blockchain.
The Indonesian government uses NFTs to protect cultural heritage.
other
Metaverse NFT transactions reached $311 million in the first quarter.
Deso, the Web3 social layer, will launch version 2.0.
DID solution provider LifeForm has now launched an ecosystem partnership program aimed at building a more open and connected metaverse ecosystem.
Web3 smart social networking protocol Meta Chat launches cross-platform AI robot service MetaBot.
OpenAI applied for the “GPT-4” trademark in China.
Open source 3D mapping platform Cesium launches Cesium for Omnivers extension.
ST announces a 2-in-1 activity-tracking/bone conduction sensor.
The first batch of 16 selected projects was announced at the 2023 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival “Web3.0 Demo Day”.
The “Blockchain Based Trusted Carbon Trading and Carbon Neutrality Management Demonstration Application” project was launched in Beijing.
People's Data · People's Chain Baas service platform is online.
Roblox, the “first stock in the metaverse,” launches a generative AI game creation tool.
The 2nd BUSINESS GOVirtual Greater Bay Area Digital Economy Conference 2023 is scheduled to be held in April.
RLTY has partnered with Ready Player Me to improve the interoperability of virtual avatars.
Meta said that starting June 30, all newly submitted Quest apps will need to support the Android 12L standard.
Japanese technology company Alphacode collaborated with Shizuoka University to develop a metaverse platform to experience dementia patients.
Disney has begun the first round of layoffs, and part of the layoff plan is to cut back the metaverse sector.
Hollywood producer Mark Rau joined Muverse, a Web3 interactive music platform, as COO.
The Gunpla Colony section of the Gundam Metaverse will be put into trial operation in October.
Hongbo Co., Ltd. said that the ChatGPT-like chatbot XiaoE has completed internal upgrades and was officially launched on the official website of InBev Digital.
KDDI launches metaverse and Web3 service “αU”.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is seeking public comments on the “Blockchain and Distributed Accounting Technology Standard System Construction Guide (2023 Edition)”.
Tommy Hilfiger launches metaverse fashion hub in Decentraland.
Theta Labs' “Decentralized Edge Storage Network with Flexible File Sharding” has been granted a US patent.
Overseas C-end applications of Skyworth Digital's products have been connected to OpenAI.
Musk called for a suspension of AI more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months.
Metaverse project YouCoin announced that it has been deployed to BNBChain.
Algorand Foundation launches AlgoKit, a developer toolkit.
Tom Cat began testing technical services such as embeddings provided by OpenAI.
Warner Music will not lay off employees in the Web3 and AI divisions.
Google is restructuring its virtual assistant division to focus on Bard artificial intelligence technology.
TCG World partners with Destiny AI to bring artificial intelligence to the metaverse.
Nanjing Jiangbei New Area held the Metaverse Industry Ecology Conference.
Investment and financing news
Metaverse infrastructure developer Hadean has closed a $5 million funding round.
Character.ai completed $150 million in financing at a valuation of 1 billion US dollars, led by a16z.
Web3 mobile app development and data platform Particle Network raised $7 million.
Snap acquires 3D scanning startup TH3rd.
Metaverse development company Land Vault completed a $3 million Series B expansion round.
OpenAI leads investment in Norwegian robotics company 1x.
Optical display company OQMented completed a Series A financing of 20 million US dollars.
Seed Club Ventures announced investments, including Web3 projects such as Lens Protocol.
VR education service provider Kai XR closed a $1.6 million seed round.
Pi Ventures has raised 220 million rupees and will invest in blockchain and other fields.
Crypto 1 announced the establishment of a C1 Tier 2 fund with plans to invest $500 million in Web3 companies.
Web3 social networking platform SO-col raised $4.5 million
To change the future of AI and the metaverse, Reality-VR launches a new funding platform.
Collaborative AI startup FedML has raised $6 million to support Web3 applications.
Saudi NFT marketplace Nuktah has completed a seed round, led by Animoca Brands.
Metaverse infrastructure solutions provider Hadean closes $5 million in new financing.
Customizable blockchain infrastructure NULS received strategic investment from DWF Labs.
AI project Fetch.ai raised $40 million
Web3 startup Junggl Media completes a new round of financing.
Muverse completed a $6 million seed round, with Syndicate Capital and others participating.
Music NFT project Daniel Allan Entertainment closed a $1 million seed round.
LootMogul initiated financing on Republic at a valuation of $65 million.
VR firefighting startup FLAIM closed $6.7 million in Series A financing.
viewpoints
Meta: The early stages of the metaverse were mainly VR, and there was little demand for mobile networks.
Zheng Zhajie, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that the development of the digital economy will be accelerated.
Wang Wei of the National Research Center said that the digital economy accounts for more than 40% of GDP and maintains a high growth rate of 10%.
Qualcomm CEO Anmon said 5G will help expand AI so that data can be shared with other devices and the cloud.
The CEO of Epic Games sees Apple as the biggest obstacle to open source metaverses.
Ma Yun talks about ChatGPT and points out that artificial intelligence should be used to solve problems.
Franklin Templeton says Web3 will drive the next wave of technological innovation.
Jaylen Lanier, the father of VR, thinks AI will be the killer of civilization.
VR studio founder Miketeevee said VR needs more content that appeals to women.
People's Daily's spending on VR should be integrated with the real economy.
Zhou Hongyi talks about Musk's call for a suspension of GPT-5 research and development, saying that lack of development is the greatest insecurity.
Meta reaffirms its metaverse status and believes it is still the future of computing, but it will take time.
Tang Daosheng, senior executive vice president of Tencent, said that XR is just one form of the metaverse.
