How the Metaverse Could Change Work | Harvard Business Review

The term metaverse has continued to gain increased attention over the past year. While there are various interpretations of the word, the metaverse is generally regarded as a network of 3-D virtual worlds where people can interact, do business, and forge social connections through their virtual “avatars. Think about it as a virtual reality version of today’s internet.“ Stated differently, the metaverse enables humans to interact in ways as if they are together in “real life”, regardless of their geographical location. The article discusses how the metaverse will reshape the world of work in at least four major ways: 1) new immersive forms of team collaboration; 2) the emergence of new digital, AI-enabled colleagues; 3) the acceleration of learning and skills acquisition through virtualization and gamified technologies; 4) and the eventual rise of a metaverse economy with completely new enterprises and work roles. While experts say the metaverse is still many years away, its emergence “provides an opportunity for enterprises to reset the balance in hybrid and remote work, to recapture the spontaneity, interactivity, and fun of team-based working and learning while maintaining the flexibility, productivity, and convenience of working from home.”