Artificial intelligence for the metaverse: A survey

• Published in: Engineering applications of artificial intelligence Vol. 117; p. 105581
• Main Authors: Huynh-The, Thien, Pham, Quoc-Viet, Pham, Xuan-Qui, Nguyen, Thanh Thi, Han, Zhu, Kim, Dong-Seong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; Blockchain; Deep learning; Immersive experience; Machine learning; Machine vision; Metaverse; Metaverse applications; Networking; Virtual worlds; Deep learning; Metaverse; Machine vision; Networking; Virtual worlds; Blockchain; Immersive experience; Machine learning; Artificial intelligence; Metaverse applications
• ISSN: 0952-1976; 1873-6769
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engappai.2022.105581

Along with the massive growth of the Internet from the 1990s until now, various innovative technologies have been created to bring users breathtaking experiences with more virtual interactions in cyberspace. Many virtual environments have been developed with immersive experience and digital transformation, but most are incoherent instead of being integrated into a platform. In this context, metaverse has been introduced as a shared virtual world that is fueled by many emerging technologies. Among such technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) has shown the great importance of enhancing immersive experience and enabling human-like intelligence of virtual agents. In this survey, we make a beneficial effort to explore the role of AI, including machine learning algorithms and deep learning architectures, in the foundation and development of the metaverse. As the main contributions, we convey a comprehensive investigation of AI-based methods concerning several technical aspects (e.g., natural language processing, machine vision, blockchain, networking, digital twin, and neural interface) that have potentials to build virtual worlds in the metaverse. Furthermore, several primary AI-aided applications, including healthcare, manufacturing, smart cities, and gaming, are studied to be promisingly deployed in the virtual worlds. Finally, we conclude the key contribution and open some future research directions of AI for the metaverse. Serving as a foundational survey, this work will help researchers, including experts and non-experts in related fields, in applying, developing, and optimizing AI techniques to polish the appearance of virtual worlds and improve the quality of applications built in the metaverse. [Display omitted] •Studying AI-based technical works that are potential to build the Metaverse.•Surveying AI-aided application works that are promisingly deployed in the Metaverse.•Reviewing of some common AI-fueled Metaverse projects.•Providing some research directions based on some major limitations of AI.