US social media giant Facebook will transform itself into a global leader of the metaverse, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg reportedly said in late June.
The Verge reported on Thursday Zuckerberg made the bold statement to Facebook employees, signalling moves which could drastically reshape the industry in the near future.
The metaverse, a virtual space aimed at connecting users across numerous ‘worlds’, allows individuals, businesses, and corporations to interact and collaborate in what is widely seen as the next stage in development for the internet.
Facebook CEO’s Future Vision of the Metaverse
According to the report, Zuckerberg said:
“What I think is most interesting is how these themes will come together into a bigger idea. Our overarching goal across all of these initiatives is to help bring the metaverse to life”
He added internet users were not “made to interact” online “through these small, glowing rectangles”, or computers, adding Facebook should push to become a “metaverse company”.
The report added Facebook had previously invested in VR technologies “because it’s the technology that delivers the clearest form of presence.”
He continued, stating Facebook was also building an “infinite office” platform, which would allow people to design and join workplaces with VR headsets.
Speaking on the future of work, Zuckerberg said “flattening out” distance would create more opportunities for workers.
He concluded:
“Within five to 10 years, probably about half the company is going to be remote. Let’s double down on that now and hire people in all these different places”
Zuckerberg’s comments come after Oculus, Facebook’s VR wing, launched its Facebook Horizon online community, which allows users to enter a metaverse, interact, play games, and design worlds.
The report comes weeks after the Menlo Park, California-based firm revealed its business management platform at the F8 Refresh event, which will build an app ecosystem and other eCommerce tools, as well as new AR tools for content creators.
Companies such as HTC VIVE, ENGAGE, UpWorlds, Varjo, Netflix, and many others have entered the metaverse market with their own enterprise-level platforms, namely as firms across the world adopt hybrid work models for employees following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
