📔 Weekly Journal: Walmart + Minecraft Metaverse Collab
[6 min read] Your weekend guide to getting ahead on the digital frontier. Learn about Walmart's newest metaverse engagement by launching a Minecraft-based gaming experience called "Skyward,"
Welcome to this week’s Weekly Journal 📔, your guide to the latest news & innovation in emerging technology, digital assets, and our exciting path to the Metaverse. This is week 120 of the 520 weeks of newsletters I have committed to, a decade of documenting our physical and digital lives converge. New subscribers are encouraged to check out the history & purpose of this newsletter as well as the archive.
- Ryan
🌐 Digital Assets Market Update
To me, the Metaverse is the convergence of physical & virtual lives. As we work, play and socialise in virtual worlds, we need virtual currencies & assets. These have now reached mainstream finance as a defined asset class:
🔥🗺️Heat map shows the 7 day change in price (red down, green up) and block size is market cap.
🎭 Crypto Fear and Greed Index is based on volatility, social media sentiments, surveys, market momentum, and a few other bits and pieces.
🗞️ Metaverse news from this week
Walmart is enhancing its metaverse engagement by launching a Minecraft-based gaming experience called "Skyward," which runs from March 21 to May 15, 2025. This story-driven adventure on Minecraft Java server invites players aged 13 and up to explore galactic missions. Additionally, Walmart is promoting Minecraft-themed merchandise, available for purchase both on their e-commerce site and through a dedicated Discord server. This initiative is part of Walmart's broader strategy to expand its metaverse presence, which includes various immersive commerce experiences across different platforms. For more details, you can read the full article here.
The Metaverse in e-commerce is expected to reach USD 368.73 billion by 2032, driven by immersive shopping experiences and AI personalization. This growth is fueled by innovations in virtual stores and NFT transactions, with major contributions from tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Nvidia. The market is expanding significantly in AR/VR headsets and mobile devices, highlighting a transformative shift in how consumers interact with e-commerce platforms. For more detailed information, you can read the full report on GlobeNewswire here.
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has updated its inflation 'shopping basket' to include items like VR headsets, yoga mats, and pulled pork. This annual update reflects changing consumer habits and preferences, ensuring that the inflation measure accurately represents modern spending trends. Items like local newspaper adverts and DVD rentals have been removed, indicating shifts in technology and media consumption. This adjustment helps track price changes in a diverse set of products that UK households typically buy.
👓 Read of the Week
For this week's "Read of the Week," consider exploring an insightful article by Dr. Diane Hamilton on Forbes titled "How Quantum Computing and the Metaverse Will Transform Your Career." This piece discusses the intersections of quantum computing and the metaverse and their potential impacts on various professional fields.
The article delves into how quantum computing could revolutionize industries by speeding up data processing, enhancing virtual environments in the metaverse, and improving AI and cybersecurity. Dr. Hamilton illustrates scenarios where these technologies integrate into everyday work life, suggesting profound shifts in how businesses operate and how employees engage with digital spaces.
Moreover, the article stresses the importance of understanding these emerging technologies, not just for tech professionals but for anyone looking to future-proof their career. It encourages readers to stay informed and consider educational resources to grasp the basics of quantum computing and its relevance to the evolving digital landscape.
🎥 Watch of the week
Museums in the Metaverse brings Scotland's cultural heritage online using VR and AR with immersive experiences, virtual museums, and educational resources.
AI 🎨🤖🎵✍🏼
In the Metaverse, AI will be critical for creating intelligent virtual environments and avatars that can understand and respond to users with human-like cognition and natural interactions.
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a known Democrat donor, has shared his optimistic views on the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in an interview with Zoë Corbyn for The Observer. In his latest book, Superagency, Hoffman discusses how AI could enhance human cognitive abilities, arguing that this technology will not only amplify individual agency but could lead to a societal transformation akin to the Industrial Revolution. He terms this the "cognitive Industrial Revolution."
Hoffman emphasizes the need for a responsible and human-centric approach to integrating AI into society. He argues that while AI will inevitably lead to the disappearance of certain job types, it primarily serves as a co-pilot, enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them. He criticizes the notion of slowing down AI development because of the significant economic and societal benefits it offers, especially if Western democracies can lead its ethical deployment.
Addressing concerns about AI's potential to diminish human agency, Hoffman points out that many fears about new technologies tend to be unfounded over time. He believes that AI has the potential to increase human agency much like previous technological advancements. Regarding the role of AI in job transformation, he suggests that AI will lead to job evolution rather than widespread job elimination, advocating for technologies that assist workers in transitioning to new roles.
Hoffman also touches on the political landscape, expressing his commitment to improving society rather than engaging in political battles. His focus extends to other ventures like Manas AI, aimed at discovering cancer cures, and his role at the London School of Economics, where he contributes thoughts on reinventing education with AI.
In terms of AI regulation, Hoffman advocates for iterative regulatory processes that adapt over time, emphasizing the importance of public feedback and non-legally binding benchmarks for AI performance. He also discusses the potential emergence of partisan AI models, suggesting transparency about the underlying principles of AI systems to prevent echo chambers.
This comprehensive outlook from Hoffman highlights both the transformative potential of AI and the critical need for careful, value-driven approaches to its integration into various facets of human life.
That’s all for this week! If you have any organisations in mind that could benefit from keynotes about emerging technology, be sure to reach out. Public speaking is one of many services I offer.
I appreciate how Reid Hoffman frames AI as an extension of agency. We can do so much more when we are AI-powered!