Chinese tech giant Baidu tests metaverse waters with new app
n
n n n ntttttttttttt
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.
n
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.
n
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.
n
It took place in front of Baidu co-founder and chief executive Robin Li and an audience of 3D avatars.
n
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.
n
XiRang allows users to create a digital character and interact with other users in a 3D world, for example a fictional city.
n
Baidu says it will allow up to 100,000 users to participate in the same digital space.
n
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.
n
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.
n
Like Baidu, other Chinese digital giants have made inroads into the metaverse.
n
ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has invested in several companies in the sector, including the maker of virtual reality headsets Pico.
n
And Tencent, aided by its expertise in video games, is developing its own metaverse platform.
tttttttntttntttntttttttttttt© 2021 AFPnttttttttt