Market Layer

A large number of companies are building the metaverse. These can be generally grouped into the following 7 conceptual categories:

1. Experiences—what people do in the metaverse
2. Discovery—how people find things to do
3. Creator Economy—how people make things in the metaverse
4. Spatial Computing—technology to render and interact with immersive space
5. Decentralization—open source, open standards and blockchain
6. Human Interface—hardware to access the metaverse
7. Infrastructure—enabling technology like networks, batteries, and semiconductors

This framework has proven remarkably durable as the technology landscape has evolved. The emergence of AI and agentic technology cuts across multiple layers: AI transforms Discovery through generative engine optimization, supercharges the Creator Economy through agentic engineering, accelerates Spatial Computing through generative 3D content, advances Decentralization through open-source models, and demands massive Infrastructure investment. AI is not a layer unto itself—it is a force multiplier that reshapes every layer.