Let’s begin our journey at the beginning, with the birth of the metaverse concept. Stemming from the words “meta”, meaning beyond, and “universe”, the metaverse can be defined as a parallel digital universe, a virtual twin of our reality that continues to expand and evolve. Imagine a place where the laws of physics can be rewritten, where the limits of what’s possible are solely constrained by our imagination. It’s a universe where an individual can live an infinity of experiences, regardless of their physical, economic, or geographical conditions in the real world. This is the incredible promise of the metaverse.

As we delve deeper into the concept of the metaverse, surprising analogies emerge between its development and the evolution of the universe itself. Just as galaxies, planets, and stars have formed and developed over billions of years, so the metaverse is growing and maturing, giving birth to a multitude of interconnected, interactive virtual worlds.

In this vision, the metaverse resembles a global-scale city simulator, like the famous SimCity, but with one significant difference: decentralization. There is no central authority governing its expansion; instead, it is an open, decentralized ecosystem where each individual can purchase a plot of virtual land and contribute to the community’s creation and development. This democratization of creation leads to extraordinary diversity in environments, cultures, and experiences and poses interesting challenges for the governance of the metaverse.

However, like our existence in the real world, the metaverse is not without challenges. Technologies like Neuralink, which promise even more direct and immersive access to the metaverse, could lead to a future where the human body becomes a mere “adapter” or “connector” between the real world and the infinite simulation of the metaverse. This vision raises disturbing questions about our identity and existence, the meaning of living in a virtual world, and the possibility that humanity has already “reset” following a cataclysm that destroyed the infrastructure supporting billions of avatars.

In this context, exploring the metaverse means grappling with a multitude of issues, from technical challenges to regulation, from ethical and moral implications to the evolution of human identity in an increasingly digitalized world. With its promise of an alternative future, the metaverse invites us to reflect on our place in the world, the nature of reality, and the direction we’re taking as a species. This journey into the metaverse is just the beginning: the questions we’re asking now, and the answers we’re seeking, will define the future of this parallel reality taking shape before our eyes.

In a not-too-distant future, we may indeed come to use the human body as a simple “adapter” or “connector” between the real world, which keeps us alive through robotic systems and advanced technologies, and the metaverse, the infinite simulation that becomes our new reality. But is it possible that this scenario has already occurred? That humanity has already “reset” following a cataclysm that destroyed the infrastructure supporting billions of avatars?

In this vision of the future, the metaverse transforms into a parallel reality where people spend most of their time, living increasingly engaging and realistic digital experiences. The Earth becomes a sort of “hub” that supports our physical existence, while our bodies act as bridges between the energy source of the real world and the infinite simulation of the metaverse.

However, this scenario brings with it a series of intriguing and disturbing questions. If the metaverse becomes our main reality, what happens to our sense of identity and belonging to the real world? How do we address the ethical and moral challenges that arise from a life spent in a virtual reality? And, perhaps most disturbing, if the human species has already “reset” once, how can we be sure it won’t happen again?

The answers to these questions may be complex and elusive, but it’s important to reflect on these themes as we approach a future where the metaverse becomes increasingly central to our lives. We need to consider the implications of a world where the human body becomes a simple adapter between physical and virtual reality and carefully assess the risks and opportunities this scenario entails.