Nvidia unveils new tools for metaverse push

Software and hardware maker Nvidia has continued to make an entry into the metaverse technology space. The U.S.-based multinational company has unveiled updates for Omniverse, its real-time graphics collaboration platform, that will facilitate the creation of more realistic metaverse platforms and avatars.

According to a blog post, the new tools were announced during SIGGRAPH, a gathering of the world’s largest computer graphics experts held this week. The tools unveiled include new AI capabilities, simulations, and other creative assets.

Users of Nvidia’s Omniverse Kit and apps such as Nucleus, Audio2Face, and Machinima will have access to all the paradigm-shifting updates.

“The next wave of Omniverse worlds is moving to the cloud — and new features for Omniverse Kit, Nucleus, PhysX, Audio2Face, and Machinima apps allow users to better build physically accurate digital twins and realistic avatars, and redefine how virtual worlds are created and experienced,” the post said.

Specific updates in these apps highlighted include full facial animation and emotion control of avatars in Audio2Face and advanced physics solvers that enable 3D virtual worlds to obey the laws of physics in PhysX, among others.

Additionally, Nvidia Omniverse Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) was also launched during the unveiling. The platform offers a suite of cloud-native AI models for developers of games, chatbots, digital twins, and virtual worlds to build and deploy interactive avatars.

The platform also allows developers using non-Nvidia hardware-powered computers to access Omniverse.

“With Omniverse ACE, developers can build, configure and deploy their avatar applications across nearly any engine, in any public or private cloud,” Nvidia added.

Metaverse adoption reaching new highs 

Nvidia’s move is only the latest in the increasing level of adoption of the metaverse technology. More and more key players are focusing on virtual worlds and digital identity. According to a panel at the BSV Global Blockchain Convention last May, many forward-thinking retail and multinational brands across various industries, as well as government bodies, are beginning to adopt a metaverse and Web 3.0 strategy.

This has been driving the accelerated development of metaverse-related technologies such as NFTs, AR/VR, and digital currencies. Policies to guide the safe adoption of Web 3.0 is also gaining more focus, a case study being Dubai.

Meanwhile, Nvidia is not new to blockchain-related technology. Nvidia’s block reward mining chip line contributes a significant portion of its revenue.

Watch: The BSV Global Blockchain Convention presentation, Masters of the Metaverse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAV2jEP4nJs