The metaverse, artificial intelligence (AI) run amok, the singularity … many far-out situations have become a dinner-table conversation. Will AI take over the world? Will you one day have a computer chip in your brain? These science fiction ideas may never come to fruition, but some do point to existing security risks.
While nobody can predict the future, should we worry about any of these issues? What’s the difference between a real threat and hype?
The Promise of the Metaverse
If you asked 10 tech-minded people to define the metaverse, you might get 10 different answers. Some say it’s a digital place where advanced virtual reality (VR) technology creates an immersive experience. Others say it’s a life in which you could spend 24 hours a day online working, socializing, shopping and enjoying yourself.
The truth is some people already spend way too much time online. In fact, the typical global internet user spends almost 7 hours a day with some kind of device.
Metaverse Meets Reality
The problem with the metaverse is that a truly immersive experience requires more than just a fancy VR headset. How do you run or wander around in a digital space? You either need a lot of space or a highly advanced, multidirectional treadmill.
You might consider planting a chip in your brain to trick you into living in another world. But we’re still a long way from that reality. Some early experiments with security concerns scarier doomsday predictions
