Evolution of the Metaverse
Mary C. Lacity, Jeffrey K. Mullins, Le Kuai · MIS Quarterly Executive · 2023
Technological advances are enabling more immersive experiences in virtual worlds and digitally augmented experiences in the physical world. These experiences are increasingly associated with the metaverse, a term rooted in science fiction originally referring to a dystopian digital reality. The recent pandemic highlighted how technology can transform work and help us overcome great obstacles, prompting organizations to consider how virtual and augmented reality can enable next-generation workplace and customer experiences. Our research explores the potential promise and peril of emergent metaverses to business and society. We also take a position on how they should be governed.