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What is the metaverse?

From virtual versions of ourselves to augmented reality, big brands like Meta (formerly Facebook) and Microsoft are creating technology to develop the metaverse. But what actually is it?

The BBC's technology correspondent Marc Cieslak breaks it down.

20 December 2021

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Jason Citron, Evan Spiegel, Shou Zi Chew, Linda Yaccarino and Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg apologises as Senators grill tech CEOs

Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg apologises to victims of online exploitation

Nadine Yousif

Why can't I get news on Instagram in Canada?

Hado

Gaming meets sport in an augmented reality world

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Trudeau attacks Facebook over wildfire news ban

Caroline Hyde

Zuckerberg v Musk rivalry: 'It's game on'

Keyframe #1

End to End Encryption - why are governments worried?

Dolly Parton impersonator outside Meta's London HQ

'It's so disheartening' - Dolly Parton tribute act on Meta 'ban'

Entertainment & Arts

Zuckerberg and Ressa

Nobel Peace Prize winner compares Zuckerberg to dictator

Brad Smith

Microsoft boss hits out at UK after gaming deal block

Teenagers said they had come across bullying left in social media comments

Social media is pretty dangerous, teenagers say

Eye looking at screen

BBC finds upskirt footage shared in Facebook groups

A County Down teenager has said she felt sick to her stomach after she discovered her photo had been used on a Facebook page that collected and published pictures of schoolgirls.

'It was quite a scary experience'

Northern Ireland

Steve Strange

Bid to save star's Instagram and Facebook photos

Mikaela Jade

'I was just a park ranger with an idea'

BBC producer with VR headset

Undercover journalist witnesses abuse in metaverse

David Mitchell, founder and CEO of XYZ Reality wears a helmet with augmented reality glasses

How tech could spot when building work goes wrong

Chris Fox wearing Nreal Light

Hands-on with Nreal Light augmented reality glasses

Brad Smith, President of Microsoft

Microsoft's plan for a sustainable future

Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer

Facebook: Why we are moving towards a ‘metaverse’

The BBC's Lily Jamali is on the left of a split screen with a driverless Tesla taxi on the right

Musk promises self-driving Tesla taxis, but are they safe?

BBC Tech Correspondent Lily Jamali analyses the 'robocabs' and if their technology is up to par.

AI Clone of BBC Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy

Watch: Can BBC reporter's AI clone fool his colleagues?

Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy has an AI clone of himself built to see how sophisticated they can be.

Rows of cars line a car park at night with red lights on and some in a queue

Driverless cars wake residents with nighttime honking

The robotaxis were stationed in a San Francisco parking lot when a feature to avoid crashes set off the noise.

Joe Tidy holding a phone with the picture of a blonde woman

‘Pig butchering’ scammers target BBC reporter

Joe Tidy played along for over two months to learn more about how the scams work.

Samira Hussain

'My boarding pass and luggage tags were filled in manually'

The BBC's Samira Hussain is in Delhi, trying to catch a flight to go on holiday with her family.

10 students took part in the project

College students on life without a smartphone

Ten teenagers swap their smartphones for brick phones as part of a week-long digital detox.

Mobile phone and social media apps

Ros Atkins on... How different countries protect children online

BBC Analysis editor Ros Atkins looks at what what is being done to prevent minors seeing harmful content.

Noland Arbaugh beside Neuralink's Bliss Chapman

Neuralink patient seen playing chess using brain implant

In a livestream on X, the patient explained that he was using a device in his brain to move the cursor.

Nigella Lawson

The celebrities 'deepfaked' for US influencer's ads

Piers Morgan and Oprah have criticised the use of AI deepfake ads used to promote a "manifestation" guide.

Paul Carter tries out the bionic arm

Paul Carter tries out Atom Limbs bionic arm

BBC Click reporter Paul Carter tries out the Atom Limbs prosthetic with 'full range of human motion'.

Jason trying out the prosthetic

Jason shows the BBC how the Atom Limbs prosthetic works

Jason lost his arm in an accident in 2012, and he's been working with Atom Limbs to test their prosthetic.

James Clayton and a demonstrator looking gat the AI mirror

Do we need an AI mirror?

The BBC's James Clayton tests out the latest tech at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.

The word Dementia spelt on wooden blocks

Using virtual reality to diagnose Alzheimer's

Researchers at University College London are investigating how the tech can help with early diagnoses.

Two Grand Theft Auto VI characters holding guns

Watch: Breaking down the GTA VI trailer...in 79 seconds

Here's what our main takeaways are from the long-awaited trailer for the gaming blockbuster.

Tesla's creative director Franz von Holzhausen

Watch: Musk attempts Cybertruck window stunt again

The pickup truck - Tesla’s latest offering - had its windows smashed during a demonstration in 2019.

Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk

‘Like having a very smart friend’: Musk on impact of AI

Billionaire Elon Musk told the British prime minister that he thinks AI could take over service sector jobs and play a role in education.

Elon Musk

'There will come a point when no job is needed,' says Musk

Billionaire Elon Musk tells the British prime minister that AI will be smarter than the smartest human.

Rishi Sunak

Sunak says Musk 'valuable' to AI conversation

The prime minister says Elon Musk's background in AI companies means he is worth speaking to.

King Charles facing the camera

AI presents profound challenges, says King Charles

The King called for unity in addressing challenges ahead of a major UK summit on AI safety.

Elon Musk in the audience the AI Summit

Musk says it is too early to start regulating AI

The tech entrepreneur says "you've got to start with insight before you do oversight".