Crafting the Metaverse at Mawson
We are at the cusp of the third evolution of Media.
Coined Synthetic Media, it promises to democratise media creation and creativity through the use of AI-generated or AI-modified content.
When Mawson began in 2016 we decided to focus our AI Lab and venture studio on building portfolio companies in Synthetic Media and Entertainment. We are excited to see the move towards a more virtual existence grow the synthetic landscape globally.
Neal Stephenson used the term ‘the metaverse’ to define a virtual parallel universe (‘Snow Crash’ 1992). Today, the metaverse represents an extension of our lives in the physical world and provides a place where we can live, learn, socialise, work and play, virtually.
The metaverse has been quietly building itself in the background but the events of 2020 have been the catalyst for a surge in its development as we shift more of our social and professional lives online.
Gaming platforms like Roblox and new synthetic media tools are rapidly changing the traditional top-down business relationship between publishers and users. The definition of “users” has expanded to include developers and creators. They will be the ones imagining and shaping the metaverse and its immersive experiences within.
By the end of this year, the gaming industry will be worth $159b. This is more than the film and music industries combined. Rather than these industries being displaced, we are seeing a convergence.
At Mawson we are busy building this new realm of entertainment. The next-generation of entertainment will not simply be a translation from the physical to the virtual world but something more. We will see the emergence of a completely new type of social, immersive and interactive experience that people can enjoy as a community of friends and fans.
As we move deeper into the metaverse, our portfolio companies continue to open up new possibilities for millions around the world to creatively express themselves online.
Popgun is shaping the virtual world of music. It is a world where emerging human and synthetic artists are discovered, where artists and fans play in a new immersive dimension that never sleeps. Their AI music engine unleashes creative possibilities that powers this new extended reality.
Replica is empowering creatives to apply natural and expressive voices in gaming, film, advertising and voice apps with their AI text-to-speech engine. They are using their web-app and API to build a community where artists can license their voice at scale to creatives who want to bring their projects to life with dynamic content.
Delta AI is a product analytics company letting brands discover how products are used in context around the world using computer vision. Delta provides new insights and trends that brands could not previously capture across social media in a fast, automated and scalable way.
Vaux is transforming voice data to be as small, clear and private as text messaging. Using AI, they are developing the infrastructure to power the explosion of VoIP applications on the web, in mobile and software.
I’d love to hear about your observations and thoughts on the metaverse, synthetic media or the future direction of entertainment.
Get in touch with me michelle@mawson.io.
