The Web 3.0 Report 30/03/23

The Web 3.0 Report is our bi-weekly newsletter helping readers keep their fingers on the pulse of everything Web 3.0 whether that be Blockchain, NFTs, the Metaverse, or of course, AR/VR.?Today we focus on Unreal Engine 5.2, Epic Games IP policy, Snap Inc's ARES system, and an Open Letter Against AI.

Unreal Engine 5.2? - Game Development like Never Before

At GDC 2023 Unreal released a new tech demo showcasing their game engine's newest features. Most notably for us was the unreal editor allowing developers to seamlessly shift and add 3D assets within a game environment leaving the editor itself to do the rest of the work texturing surrounding environments as well as any empty spaces. The unreal editor seemingly streamlines the development process spelling hope for developers and game publishers alike in an industry plagued by excessive crunch periods and unrealistic deadlines. The updated engine also features a new AI-driven animation system, metahuman, that can produce more realistic and lifelike movements in humanoid characters. Overall, the Unreal Engine 5.2 is poised to be a significant step forward for game developers, providing them with a range of tools to create more immersive and engaging gaming experiences. I’m interested to see how this tech will also be incorporated into brand experiences as we have previously seen via Epic Games’ various platforms.

Epic Games Issue Perma-ban to Creator of Fan-made Game

However, as the metaverse becomes more prominent and easy to create through engines such as Unreal 5.2, questions about its legality have arisen. Epic Games, one the space's biggest players, issued a permanent ban to a player, claiming they violated copyright laws by creating a? fan-made game in Fortnite using the Unreal Editor. The player had created a game inspired by the popular anime series Attack on Titan, stating that the game infringed on the intellectual property rights of the publisher. The ban comes amidst increasing scrutiny on IP laws and how they affect fan-made content in gaming, particularly in the case of Nintendo's strict enforcement in the past. Many argue that fan-made content is essential to gaming culture and should be protected, while businesses insist that it infringes on copyright laws and can harm the original creators. The situation highlights the complex issues surrounding IP laws and the disparity in attitude to the metaverse between select brands and users. Some see the Metaverse as a democratised initiative for individual creativity and while many brands agree, some argue that user generated content should exist outside the umbrella of their intellectual property.?

Snap Inc Introduces ARES System for Users

Snapchat released the ARES system to business partners this week. Snap Inc's ARES system is a proprietary technology used to create augmented reality experiences for Snapchat. It uses computer vision and machine learning algorithms to detect and track real-world objects in real-time, allowing AR experiences to be seamlessly integrated into the user's environment. ARES also uses multiple cameras to create a 3D map of the environment, enhancing the accuracy and stability of the AR effects. The system optimises performance based on various factors such as lighting, movement, and distance. ARES has been widely praised for its ability to create engaging and easy-to-use AR experiences for users. It has been used to create popular AR lenses for events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics. As AR technology continues to evolve, Snap Inc is likely to continue innovating and improving ARES to create even more immersive AR experiences for its users and brands alike.

The militarisation of AI

In an open letter, signed by Elon Musk and other experts in the field, it calls for a "military-style" pause on the development of autonomous weapons powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The letter argues that AI weapons would "permit armed conflict to be fought at a scale greater than ever, and at timescales faster than humans can comprehend". The letter also notes the potential for the weapons to be hacked, leading to unintended consequences. The signatories, urged governments to establish a ban on the development and deployment of such weapons.The letter also calls for increased research and regulation of AI technologies to ensure their safety and ethical use. The signatories argue that AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for improving society, but only if it is developed and deployed responsibly. The letter follows similar calls for caution from tech industry leaders, including Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking, who have warned of the potential dangers of AI. The letter concludes by saying, "We cannot hand over the decision as to who lives and who dies to machines. They do not have the ethics to do so. We urge governments to create a future with strong international norms, regulations and laws against lethal autonomous weapons."?