Seeing is believing: Our quick explainer video gives you insight into what the metaverse is all about.

Amid global economic gloom, Asia-Pacific remains a region of digital opportunities in 2023, highlighted by the increasing momentum of the metaverse in China, surging retail sales in India, and burgeoning livestream commerce in Indonesia.

Continued investment in AI and metaverse technologies demonstrates the company’s commitment to long-term growth and innovation. Meta's focus on AI development, including the release of the Llama 3.1 model, positions it as a strong competitor in the AI race against companies like OpenAI and Google.

In part one of this two-part podcast episode, we discuss some predictions for 2024 that are too specific to be 100% certain about but could still come true, including: which subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform Apple will likely buy, where metaverse playgrounds will spring up, and what the ruling between Google and the US Department of Justice will be. Tune in to the discussion with our vice presidents of content Suzy Davidkhanian and Paul Verna and analyst Max Willens.

Paving the path to the metaverse: Unprecedented interest in the emerging metaverse might cool if the tech industry can’t sustain momentum on innovation and public enthusiasm during the downturn.

One year later, a new headset—and , a whole set of challenges: Nearly one year and $15 billion later, Meta’s vision for the metaverse remains optimistic even if a focus on business and productivity apps seems premature and risky.

Meta trapped in the middle of its past and future: One year after its bold pivot to the metaverse, Meta is wrestling with poor VR user adoption while desperately trying to resuscitate legacy apps in a flagging ad-revenue reality.

Zuck has a golden opportunity if he doesn't muck it up: Meta’s market valuation drops are tied to its metaverse aspirations. Its upcoming product releases need to be crowd pleasers.

All eyes on Apple: As expectations mount for AR/VR product plans, Apple doubles down on iPhone, Mac, and iPad—a move that might indicate its metaverse ambitions are on hold.

Meta faces rocky road to reverse underperformance: Q3 shows revenue outlook weakening as metaverse projects swell expenses.

Roblox isn’t growing: The young-skewing gaming/metaverse platform reported lower net bookings than Q2 2021.

Watch the on-demand replay of our webinar, Marketing in the Metaverse, as our analysts cover facts and figures about the popularity of the metaverse with consumers, as well as statistics regarding metaverse-centric technologies like AR and VR.

Zuckerberg’s slipup is a bad omen for its metaverse: Meta’s CEO shared an ugly photo of its metaverse platform that kicked off a week of mockery and concern.

Meta on the ropes: Meta shares have dropped, but metaverse adoption is expected to be a $13 trillion industry by 2030 as more players build competing immersive VR experiences.

It’s been eight months since Facebook rebranded to Meta, but as our analyst Jasmine Enberg notes, “there won’t be a magical moment when we all suddenly enter the metaverse.”

Nearly three-quarters of US adult internet users agreed it will take them a while to understand how to use and join the virtual world, according to an October 2022 Sitecore survey. That’s not great news considering 64% said they won’t engage in the metaverse if it’s hard to figure out or use.

Some 3% of US adults have already purchased real estate in a metaverse environment, and a further 8% are interested in staking their claim on a digital land plot. That said, more than half of US adults have never heard of virtual real estate, indicating we’re still a ways out from society going meta.

Nike and Apple eye opportunities in the metaverse: Nike is opening an online store and trading platform for digital sneakers, while Apple is reportedly working on its own virtual environment.

Around one-quarter of people in the US ages 13 to 34 are fans of the metaverse. But for every person who gives it a thumbs-up, there are about two in that age group who dislike or have never heard of the concept.

Meta’s new prototypes show promise: Unveiling future VR headsets and announcing brand partnerships could stoke interest in the metaverse, but Meta still has a long way to go to push the platform into the mainstream.

Cannes notebook: Social media platforms discussed new products, the metaverse, and creators at the June festival.

While the metaverse is still taking shape, consumers are already interested in using it to enhance everyday experiences. About 60% of US teens and adults believe that virtual environments will make the process of finding a fitness or exercise routine significantly better, and the same percentage expect them to improve real estate shopping.

Insider Intelligence spoke with Sanyu Dillon, executive vice president and CMO at Penguin Random House US, about brands building cultural fluency, entering the metaverse, and building digital communities with younger audiences.