China News Service, Beijing, December 7 (Reporter Sun Zifa) In recent times, the topic of "meta universe" has attracted widespread attention and heated discussions.
At the 2021 Artificial Intelligence Cooperation and Governance International Forum in Beijing recently, at the main forum of “Future Governance Prospects of the Metaverse”, experts and scholars in artificial intelligence and related fields gather online and offline at Tsinghua University, focusing on whether the Metaverse is a concept or technology and application. To embrace or stay away, how the meta-universe (virtual world) and the original universe (real world) are related, and other hot topics are discussed and debated in the form of roundtable forums.
The meta-universe may bring mankind into a super-historical space
Researcher Duan Weiwen, director of the Science and Technology Philosophy Research Office of the Institute of Philosophy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Center for Science, Technology and Social Studies, believes that the technological world that humans currently build for themselves is based on the cyber physical space (CPS), regardless of whether it is called the meta universe. If the next step is to continue to use information and data as the key path to build the world, it will be a new type of Internet application and social form that integrates a variety of new technologies.
It is urgent to think deeply about the transcendence of the conception and construction of the meta-universe, which may bring mankind into a trans-historical space.
This space not only involves the world of perceptual experience such as reality, virtual and extended reality, but also a world that transcends reality and virtual experience and involves the creation of concepts and meanings such as signs/symbols and imagination.
He said that in the future, the supervision and governance of the meta-universe may not be faced with a single-dimensional technology system—the only capitalized meta-universe empire, but a multi-dimensional integrated technology system—a diverse meta-universe republic or multiple types. A consortium of microworlds.
The governance of the meta universe should be forward-looking considerations.
First of all, when it comes to signs/symbols and imagination, it is necessary to give it full freedom to create space, not to introduce a standardized system in an emergency, but to emphasize self-management and self-control based on self-awareness.
Secondly, it should be noted that no matter what technological path the meta-universe takes, it will take place on the earth, society, and people themselves. Therefore, it promotes human sustainability, social sustainability (such as unity and communication), and natural Sustainability should become the basic value appeal of meta-universe governance.
Third, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the subversive social value ethical impact that the meta universe may cause.
Human beings have always lived in a world constructed by technology, and the meta-universe may be the future version of the technological world.
Regardless of whether the meta-universe is true or not, under the current technological path, the most prominent problem is that data is replacing information and becoming the infrastructure of the new technological world-data is human behavior, and the construction of the meta-universe seems to be based on data. Monitoring everywhere, all the time.
This urgently requires us to reflect on and discuss this technological path from the dimensions of nature, society and individuals, in order to form a new social contract for the deep technological future including the meta-universe.
The fusion of reality and fiction in the meta universe faces many risks in the future
According to Shen Yang, executive director of the New Media Research Center of the School of Journalism, Tsinghua University, Metaverse is a new world where reality and reality merge. Metaverse has realized the expansion of time and space, and it faces many risks in the future, such as the ownership of virtual humans, virtual humans. Responsibility dilemma, personal cognitive alienation and behavior alienation under human-computer interaction.
At present, the overall development of Metaverse is at an early stage, and its technical application is still at a low level.
Regarding the governance of Metaverse, it is possible to conduct research and development while managing to ensure that no major risks occur, and to actively promote the development of the Metaverse industry.
In the near future, it can be discussed within the framework of existing systems, laws, and policies, and the current governance should be implemented at the level of personal power and interest relations.
Shenyang stated that the future of Metaverse governance needs to be built on the basis of full research, and through social discussions with multiple subjects, to achieve a balance between development and governance and avoid a one-size-fits-all governance framework.
It is necessary to discover, analyze, and solve problems in the development process to achieve precise dynamic governance.
Zhang Wei, Assistant Representative of the United Nations Development Program in China, pointed out that as the concept of Metaverse has received widespread attention, it is urgent to comprehensively examine the possible future governance issues of Metaverse from all angles, including political economy, international relations and global governance, ethics, and legislation. , Supervision, etc., so as to construct a fair, open, responsible, good and sustainable virtual world.
She emphasized that 37% of the world's population still has no access to or use of the Internet. Compared with the governance issues of Metaverse, the more urgent and realistic challenges brought by the acceleration of digitalization and disruptive technologies are still the digital divide.
Should make good use of virtual/augmented reality to stay away from the meta-universe
"Several concepts related to Metaverse are currently very unclear and misleading in science." Member of UNESCO's Ad Hoc Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence Ethics, Member of China's National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Governance Committee, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences Researcher Zeng Yi summarized his main point of view as: Make good use of virtual/augmented reality and stay away from the meta-universe.
Zeng Yi agrees that virtual reality and augmented reality take root in reality, and to extend reality through virtual and augmented reality and assist humans in understanding reality. Therefore, it is appropriate to use it appropriately under the concept of good use.
He believes that the meta-universe literally means "universe of the universe" and "surpassing the universe". If it is necessary to shape the meta-universe, it should be highly connected to the real world and cannot be completely separated from the real world. Once this connection is lost , The meta universe lost its foundation.
He also believes that the concept of human-oriented "digital twins" is also not scientifically sound.
On the one hand, twins emphasize similarity, on the other hand, two people who are completely different in nature cannot correspond to the same entity.
In addition, current artificial intelligence cannot clone humans into digital systems, and artificial intelligence currently does not have true understanding, awareness, and true autonomy. Therefore, the construction of virtual agents with the vision of digital twins blurs and confuses humans and artificial intelligence. While the current artificial intelligence is only a seemingly intelligent information processing tool, the current technological development is far from supporting the “digital twin”.
Zeng Yi especially emphasized that when the basic concepts, visions and applications related to the "meta universe" still seem to have major risks, young people should not be pushed into this unknown space in particular.
First of all, the current description of the concept of the meta-universe is not solid; secondly, before the arrival of general artificial intelligence, all the risks of the Internet and artificial intelligence are enough to cause a huge impact on human society. "Based on the development of modern networks and artificial intelligence technology, the risks will be superimposed on this basis; finally, from the perspective of cultural background, the virtual and real worlds are both historical products.
The history of reshaping the virtual society is indelible.
For co-governance on a virtual platform, cultural mutual learning and mutual trust are important "infrastructures."
"From a technical point of view, when we promise the global public and political system concepts, we must consider the technical feasibility and rationality of social applications on the premise of proposing basic concepts that can withstand scientific scrutiny. Completely divorced from the real world. The new concept of plastic will bring human beings to real survival risks." Zeng Yi said.
Metaverse should be human-oriented and strengthen the real world
Microsoft (China) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Wei Qing said that everyone has a different understanding of Metaverse.
The meta-universe should be people-oriented, and should be used to strengthen the real world, not to replace the physical world, and it should not allow people to indulge in the virtual world.
More and more people are discovering that both virtual space and real space need to be governed, and both need to be in order.
However, there is still no clear answer as to what constitutes good governance. It requires human society to reach a consensus.
In the development of the digital society, the digital divide is a big challenge.
"As our technology moves forward, we cannot leave some people behind. In the face of new technology, we need to have enough confidence that technology can contribute to a better life for mankind."
Yu Chen, one of the authors of "Meta Universe Token", believes that the virtual world created can be regarded as the meta universe, and the virtual world is not terrible.
Throughout human history, it is a process from reality to fiction.
The root of many problems in the meta-universe and modern society is that many people confuse symbols and their referents, and confuse simulacra with reality.
Virtual space needs order and governance.
The possible threats of new technologies cannot be simply summarized and compared with previous technologies. After all, artificial intelligence technology may not need to have consciousness to destroy humans, and people often underestimate the secondary harm of new technologies.
In principle, technology is neutral, but technology is the "amplifier" of human nature, and the governance of new technologies should be a dynamic process.
"The meta universe brings us the possibility of creating value. We need to eliminate the evil part and leave the good part behind."
He Zhan, head of Omniverse of Nvidia China, said that Metaverse is a concept, not a technology.
Due to the emergence, landing and explosion of many digital technologies in recent years, the concept of meta-universe has been widely discussed.
To be precise, the meta universe is the fusion of many technologies including artificial intelligence, machine vision, physical simulation, high-performance computing, etc., and then forms a new business form that blends virtual and real.
The "Yuan" of the meta-universe represents the harmonious coexistence of the objectively existing world and the subjective consciousness and will of human beings and needs to serve the real world.
For example, the development of ordering robots to help people recommend suitable foods for their preferences. In the past few decades, most people have been the first to experience the bonuses brought by the virtual world.
But what's interesting is that if you can distinguish the difference between the real world and the meta-universe, people often choose to optimize their real life and achieve a balance between reality and reality by training themselves.
"Our identity in the meta-universe is not only a virtual identity of a person, but a collection." Bilibili up master Zimin believes that at present, many people may not be aware of the meta-universe being used, or do not understand it at all. A concept.
He believes that the understanding of the meta-universe concept is mainly based on the discussion of virtual and real technologies.
From the perspective of the relationship between the virtual world and the real world, the virtual world is currently a rudimentary form, while the real world has already taken shape. The purpose of developing the virtual world is to use it to help the real world.
For example, conducting simulation training and learning (such as fire drills) in the virtual world is to promote the development and progress of the real world, and it is hoped that multiple parties can cooperate and use the metaverse to help people in need and realize their ideals.
Especially the young people on station B have a positive meaning for their life development and career planning.
And the population in those poor areas should also lower the threshold and actively incorporate them into the meta-universe.
Therefore, the future meta-universe and the real world will be interdependent and promoted.
Song Ting, an artificial intelligence and blockchain artist, believes that the meta universe is not a substitute for the physical universe, and digital art is not a substitute for physical art. A new culture based on digital twins has a lot to do in the meta universe.
She hopes that the industry can continue to develop programmable and expandable art spaces, so that Metaverse can empower people's creativity, rather than reduce creativity.
Metaverse allows artists to communicate with colleagues from all over the world without being restricted by geography.
And since blockchain technology makes every transaction visible, credit is very important in Metaverse.
The 2021 Artificial Intelligence Cooperation and Governance International Forum is hosted by Tsinghua University and undertaken by the Institute of Artificial Intelligence International Governance of Tsinghua University. The international support organization is the United Nations Development Program. "Meta Universe Future Governance Prospects" is one of the three main forums.
Experts and scholars participating in the forum said that cyberspace has formed tension with the existing order, organization and structure of the real world, and has also provided a new dimension of challenge to the governance of the real world.
These tensions and challenges have caused a series of human challenges, social tears, political turmoil, financial risks and other issues, and new hidden dangers are still brewing.
Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine the impact of scattered but connected virtual spaces on the real world.
The lack of institutional consensus and construction in the virtual space, and the conflict between virtual space and real-world systems have become issues that urgently need to be resolved in the next generation of the Internet.
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