Meta is planning to enhance its virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality games with generative AI technology as part of an effort to revitalize its metaverse strategy.
According to a recent job listing, Meta is looking to research and prototype “new consumer experiences” through gameplay driven by generative AI. These games would feature elements that change each time they are played, following non-deterministic paths.
Additionally, Meta aims to develop or collaborate with third-party creators to build AI-powered tools that could improve workflow and reduce time-to-market for game development.
The primary focus of these efforts will be on Horizon, Meta’s suite of metaverse games, apps, and creation resources. However, the company is also considering expanding to non-Meta platforms, such as smartphones and PCs.
“This is a nascent area but has the potential to create new experiences that are not even possible to exist today,” the job listing states. “The innovation in this space could have a dramatic effect on the ecosystem as it should increase efficiency and allow considerably more content to be created.”
These new initiatives come as Meta’s Reality Labs division, which is responsible for the company’s metaverse projects including the Meta Quest headset, struggles to produce a blockbuster product.
Despite selling tens of millions of Quest units, Meta has found it challenging to attract users to its Horizon mixed reality platform and recover from billions in operating losses.
In response, Meta has shifted its metaverse strategy, allowing third-party headset manufacturers to license some of the Quest’s software-based features, such as hand and body tracking.
Simultaneously, Meta has increased investments in metaverse game projects, reportedly due to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s growing interest in developing games for Quest headsets.
In 2022, Zuckerberg demonstrated a prototype called Builder Bot, which allowed users to create parts of virtual worlds using prompts like “Let’s go to the beach.” Last year, Meta CTO and Reality Labs head Andrew Bosworth wrote about generative AI tools that could democratize metaverse content creation.
“Just like Instagram helped anyone be a creator, [these generative AI tools] won’t just boost the power of individual creators,” Bosworth wrote. “[They’ll also act as a force multiplier for developers, giving small teams the horsepower of larger studios and accelerating innovation across the board.”
Generative AI has already started to influence game development, with companies like Disney-backed Inworld and Artificial Agency using the technology to create dynamic game dialogues and narratives.
Various platforms now offer tools to generate game art assets and character voices via AI, though some game creators are concerned about the impact on their livelihoods.
Earlier this year, Meta announced plans to invest billions in generative AI and formed a new top-level team focused on AI products such as AI characters and ads.
In April, Zuckerberg cautioned that it will take “years” for the company to profit from generative AI, indicating that these investments might not immediately improve Reality Labs’ financial situation.
