Mark Zuckerberg changed Facebook’s name to Meta last week – and launched a vision for his company that he claims will transform the way we interact with the internet and each other. So what exactly is the metaverse? And will it ever leave the realm of science fiction?When Facebook scheduled a major announcement for last week, news quickly got out that Mark Zuckerberg was planning to change the company’s name – and that he would explain how Facebook would move towards its next incarnation, the “metaverse”. But few expected he would set out a vision with such far-off ambitions – and show so little evidence of what it is doing today to get there. Zuckerberg’s presentation was derided in some quarters as wooden, narcissistic, dystopian, and unintentionally hilarious. But it was also a vastly ambitious and risky pitch for how the company will leave its present-day brand and focus behind to re-emerge as the leading player in a version of the internet that doesn’t exist today.So what exactly is the metaverse? What is the business case for Facebook’s pivot to such an undeveloped and complex technology? And how much was the decision to rebrand as Meta driven by the toxification of Facebook’s brand by months of damaging leaks from the US whistleblower Frances Haugen? In this episode, Nosheen Iqbal is joined by the Guardian’s UK technology editor, Alex Hern, who explains what we already know about the metaverse, its origins in science fiction stories, and its likely real-world... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2021-11-04 03:00:23 UTC ]
From angry spirits and parallel universes to alien abductions and epic folklore, African writers are offering fresh new horizons for the world’s science fiction landscape. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-12-19 08:05:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this
From cyberpunk to space to climate fiction, novels and novellas, here are the 10 best science fiction books of 2024. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-12-17 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The year’s best speculative fiction includes a fantasy novel by Kelly Link, alien epics and promising starts to series. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-12-06 10:02:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this
On the day of the release of ChatGPT 4.0, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted "her"--a reference to the 2013 science fiction film in which an AI chatbot named Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, develops an intimate relationship with her human user. The tweet called... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2024-12-04 17:25:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In an era of exponentially advancing technology, staying ahead of the curve can feel like a full-time job. This fairly describes the career of acclaimed science fiction author Neal Stephenson, who invented the term “metaverse,” cemented the notion of a digital “avatar,” and received oblique... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-11-08 09:56:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this
While it is fair to say that Warhammer 40k has so far been underrepresented in science fiction circles, it seems the tide is finally starting to turn. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-10-28 17:36:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This audiovisual installation feels like being in the middle of a science fiction film. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-10-24 12:27:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this
If you’re worried about artificial intelligence taking your job, you might want to sit down for this one. AI startup Anthropic has demonstrated a new “Claude” model called that can look at a computer screen and operate a virtual mouse and keyboard, “the way people do,” according to... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2024-10-23 19:56:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Cherie Dimaline Wins NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature News and Events [email protected] Tue, 10/22/2024 - 17:01 World Literature Today, the University of Oklahoma’s award-winning magazine of international literature and... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2024-10-22 22:01:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A film production company that helped make “Blade Runner 2049” has sued Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk for using an AI-generated image resembling a scene from the science fiction movie to market Tesla’s new robotaxis Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2024-10-22 14:38:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A new trailer dropped on the opening day of the New York Comic Con for the new six-episode spinoff series Dune: Prophecy, a prequel to the recent films directed by Denis Villeneuve. The new series will premiere November 17 at 9PM on HBO. Each episode will be available to stream on Max on... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-10-17 21:23:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A modern gothic fantasy, a hopepunk space opera, a ghostalker, and more of today's best science fiction and fantasy book deals. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-10-14 14:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
It’s now easy enough to find a laptop with a spiffy, super-vibrant OLED screen. But two OLED screens at once? That’s the stuff of science fiction — and, well, Lenovo’s weird Yoga Book 9i. But if you’re looking for a more conventional laptop design with a keyboard that just happens to go... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2024-10-11 15:20:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Over the course of her career, Judy-Lynn del Rey earned a reputation as a superstar editor among her authors. Think of your favorite fantasy or science-fiction novel. You’ll know the author and title, of course. But can you think of its editor or publisher? Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2024-10-10 19:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Terminator not only redefined the science fiction but also explored the dangers of unchecked technological advancement. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-10-09 16:12:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this
"What blooded me as a really feral reader in college was the discovery of short story collections." Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-10-09 14:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This week, Microsoft started rolling out the Windows 11 2024 update, but it quickly became clear that the company was far more eager to unveil new features for its Copilot AI and Copilot+ AI PCs. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about Microsoft's current AI priorities, and what it... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-10-04 11:30:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Substance is a satirical body-horror and science fiction film underpinned by feminist critique. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-09-27 01:41:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this