Neal Stephenson, the renowned science-fiction author who popularized the concept of the metaverse in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, believes that building the foundational infrastructure for the metaverse is key to making it accessible to everyone. In an interview with the Financial Times, Stephenson spoke about his new start-up, Lamina1, which uses blockchain technology to create a more open and expansive metaverse.
Stephenson defines the metaverse as a virtual space where people can interact with each other in real time through audiovisual bodies called avatars, experiencing fictional activities in fictional spaces. According to Stephenson, the games industry is the economic and technological engine behind the future metaverse. While the foundational infrastructure for the metaverse is essential, Stephenson believes that it is not up to him to determine how things ought to be. He envisions a decentralised network of interactions and financial transactions that put him in mind of blockchain and other decentralised finance constructs.
Stephenson stresses the importance of having millions of people use the metaverse every day and find the experiences worth having before it can become a reality. While a headset is not necessary to experience the metaverse, Stephenson suggests that it will likely be a big part of it. The metaverse is currently taking a backseat to artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, and Stephenson thinks this is a good thing. He believes that engineering takes time and that scarcity drives quality in the art world. Stephenson is not considering using AI as a co-pilot for his next novel, as he believes that art is about communing with the artist and experiencing the decisions made by them.