You hear the word “metaverse” all the time. But how often have you considered the definition? Coined in 1992 by science fiction author Neal Stephenson, the relatively obscure term exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly after Facebook rebranded as Meta in October 2021. There are now myriad articles on the metaverse, and thousands of companies have invested in its development. Citigroup Inc. has estimated that by 2030 the metaverse could be a $13 trillion market, with 5 billion users. From climate change to global connection and disability access to pandemic response, the metaverse has incredible potential. Gatherings in […]

You’ve likely heard how the metaverse will bring a new era of digital connectivity, virtual reality (VR) experiences, and e-commerce. And tech companies are betting on it: Microsoft’s massive $68.7 billion acquisition of game-developing giant Activision Blizzard reflected the company’s desire to bolster its position in the interactive entertainment space. Prior to this, Facebook’s parent company rebranded itself as Meta — a key pillar of founder Mark Zuckerberg’s grand ambitions to reimagine the social media platform as “a metaverse company, building the future of social connection.” But other non-tech corporations are clamoring to get in on the ground floor, from […]