It’s convenient to criticize Mark Zuckerberg and Meta. Zuckerberg himself lacks the charisma that often accompanies public figures, and Facebook has been criticized worldwide as a tool for mass distraction by nearly every political party in every country.
Meta, it seems, was Zuckerberg’s attempt to create a lasting, positive impact on humanity. Figures like Getty, Gates, Rockefeller, Hearst, and even Bezos, with his significant financial commitment to environmental protection, have all tried to leave legacies that make a difference.
Convincing people of your genuine intent to make a positive change can be challenging. In a recent LinkedIn poll regarding Bezos’s commitment to donating $124 billion to create a significant positive impact on the world, the responses were almost evenly split, with 40% in favor and 44% against.
The concept of the Metaverse is undoubtedly on the horizon, but before we pass judgment on this still-developing idea from Zuckerberg, let’s consider five key factors:
Diverse Companies: Numerous companies are offering components for a virtual world. The question is, where does Meta fit into this landscape? This isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. Many companies provide elements of the metaverse or fractional components. You don’t necessarily need a specialized headset; Auki Labs, for example, offers accessible metaverse experiences directly from your cell phone. Their founder, Nils Pihl, discussed this on the Forbes Futures in Focus podcast this year. It’s real, user-friendly, engaging, and practical. Zuckerberg has yet to create a user-friendly and compelling on-ramp to his vision of the metaverse. Think back to the early days of personal computing; users didn’t want to build PCs from scratch; they wanted ready-to-use, user-friendly devices.
Lack of a Killer Application: The Metaverse, as defined by Meta, lacks a clearly visible and understandable killer application. Yes, you can argue that the Metaverse is already here, as some articles suggest. However, digital twins, AI, and simulation models are prevalent in our daily lives without requiring Meta’s intervention. For instance, Wind River offers a prime example. The lack of a clear landing zone is a significant shortcoming that Meta has yet to address convincingly.
Single Platform Skepticism: We don’t confine our lives to a single store for shopping, a single financial institution, or a single brand for all our purchases. Life is not a single-platform experience, even though Apple comes close. A one-size-fits-all approach is seldom realistic or desirable.
Avoiding Hubris: In a world marked by ambiguity and the appeal of new ideas, there’s a fine line between innovation and hubris. Meta’s vision mustn’t appear self-serving or selfish. Where is Meta’s promise to save the world with the metaverse? It’s hard to find any evidence of this beyond the typical corporate sustainability commitments. Why hasn’t Meta established a Nobel prize for social and economic impact? The presumption that they can tackle these issues in isolation, without fostering an ecosystem or inspiring engagement from others, reeks of hubris.
The Power of AI: Remarkable things are happening with AI. Consider the case of Hannah Ward, a 19-year-old undergraduate at Texas A&M, who accomplished impressive feats with Chat GPT in just thirty hours. The new Meta world promises instant access and gratification, potentially revolutionizing our experiences. Tami Erwin, the CEO of Verizon Business, discussed this transformation on Forbes Futures in Focus. We can envision, communicate, and devise extraordinary solutions as a species. It’s not the concept that’s at fault; it’s the approach Meta has taken in delivering it. Listen to Crystal Rutland as she discusses the future of UX within the Metaverse, highlighting its distinctive nature. Curiously, there’s no mention of Facebook or Meta in this conversation.
Ultimately, there’s a profound lesson here for visionary CEOs and leaders: Be humble, convey a compelling vision, and bring various parts of the ecosystem, old or new, along with you. Ensure there are clear, believable, useful, and beloved landing zones for your ideas.
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