Metaverse Could Create Human-Centric ‘Revolution’ in Manufacturing Despite Its Slowdown, Study Says

Key Takeaways

• A new study claims that the future of the metaverse in manufacturing could promote increased collaboration between human workers and machines.
• Meta’s Reality Labs, the division that handles metaverse technology, has lost $60 billion since 2020.
• The rise of advanced technologies, such as AI, has raised concerns about global job displacement.

The biggest worry about new innovative technologies is their potential to replace humans in the workplace.

The rise of AI, for example, has raised significant concerns about the potential displacement and eradication of specific jobs in the near future.

However, a new study has revealed a far more hopeful future for the metaverse, claiming that its technology could start a revolution that sees stronger collaboration between humans and advanced machines.

Metaverse Enhancing Human Interaction in Manufacturing

Recent research, published by analysts and lecturers from Surrey University, found that metaverse technologies are on the cusp of a human-centric revolution.

“We’re on the cusp of a revolution where technology is not merely a replacement for human effort but a collaborative partner that amplifies our capabilities,” said Dr. Wolfgang Garn, co-author of the study and Senior Lecturer in Analytics at the University of Surrey. “Imagine a factory floor where workers and robots are not competing, but in synergy, creating products with unprecedented efficiency and creativity.”

Within the study, the research team examined over 130 published articles between 2010 and 2024 to analyze the evolution of Metaverse usages in manufacturing settings.

The research found that, despite augmented reality (AR) and digital twins’ growing adoption, the technology is being held back by serious challenges.

The study says that these challenges, which include data interoperability and accuracy, could be overcome with increased collaboration between humans and technology.

“This isn’t just about technology for technology’s sake,” Garn added. “It’s about creating a manufacturing environment that values human insight and creativity. By harnessing the power of the Metaverse, we can not only improve productivity but also enrich the work experience for individuals.”

Metaverse’s Slow Adoption

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s dream of creating a metaverse has had somewhat of a rocky journey so far.

Since 2020, one year before Zuckerberg rebranded the company from Facebook to Meta, its Reality Labs unit has suffered losses exceeding $60 billion, according to Meta’s recent earnings report.

Despite the mounting losses and a year-long switch to focusing on AI, Zuckerberg has seemingly begun to regain focus on his ambitious plans.

According to a leaked memo seen by Business Insider, Meta’s chief technology officer, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, told staff that 2025 was the “most critical” to prove the metaverse is either a visionary feat or a “legendary misadventure.”

Meta’s AR glasses are currently at the front of Zuckerberg’s mind and likely his potential new plan to bring the metaverse to the masses.

“A lot of people in the world have glasses,” Zuckerberg said in Meta’s recent earnings call. “It’s hard for me to imagine that a decade or more from now, all the glasses aren’t going to basically be AI glasses, as well as a lot of people who don’t wear glasses today finding that to be a useful thing.”

The focus on glasses represents a significant move away from traditional VR and AR headsets, which Meta has also struggled to find high levels of success with.

Job Displacement Worries

As Big Tech increasingly pursues AI development, concerns surrounding the technology’s potential impact on the global workforce have grown alongside it.

In March 2024, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that eight million U.K. jobs could be lost to AI in a “jobs apocalypse.”

The IPPR found that entry-level, part-time, and administrative jobs were the most at risk of being replaced by AI in the next three to five years, although this would be a “worst-case scenario.”

According to the study, the first wave of AI adoption was already putting jobs at risk, but a second wave could potentially lead to more role replacements.