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 by AFP Staff Writers Beijing (AFP) Dec 27, 2021
Chinese tech giant Baidu on Monday took its first steps into the metaverse industry with the launch of a virtual reality app, looking to test the waters in what is considered by many to be the next phase in the internet's evolution. The Beijing-based company joins brands such as Nike and Ferrari in rushing to experiment with virtual goods against a backdrop of predictions that the metaverse could one day overtake and replace the web of today. The firm, nicknamed the Chinese Google, held a conference inside the virtual world of its new app XiRang, which means "Land of Hope". It can be accessed from a smartphone, computer or through virtual reality goggles. It took place in front of Baidu co-founder and chief executive Robin Li and an audience of 3D avatars. The platform, however, is still in its infancy and Ma Jie, a vice president at Baidu, told reporters at an earlier event that it could take up to six years for a full launch, according to CNBC. XiRang allows users to create a digital character and interact with other users in a 3D world, for example a fictional city. Baidu says it will allow up to 100,000 users to participate in the same digital space. Users, who can only access the app in China, can take part in activities such as visiting virtual exhibitions or practising diving in a digital swimming pool. The opportunities offered by the creation of a "new virtual world" are whetting the appetites of digital giants such as Facebook, whose parent company was re-baptised "Meta" in October to signal a strategic shift to the metaverse. Like Baidu, other Chinese digital giants have made inroads into the metaverse. ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has invested in several companies in the sector, including the maker of virtual reality headsets Pico. And Tencent, aided by its expertise in video games, is developing its own metaverse platform. sbr/lys/jfx/qan
Nike buys virtual sneaker firm as metaverse buzz grows New York (AFP) Dec 14, 2021 Why buy the latest pair of sneakers, when you can buy the latest pair of virtual ones instead? Nike joined the wave of brands buying into excitement over virtual goods Monday as the sportswear giant announced it has bought RTFKT, a company that makes digital sneakers. RTFKT - pronounced "artifact" - sells digital items in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), virtual assets that are authenticated using the same blockchain technology as cryptocurrencies. "This acquisition is another ste ... read more
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