A Brief Interview with Philip Rosedale on the Metaverse, Mixed Reality, and AI

Alright, let’s dive in. Man, I just gotta say — two days ago, for the very first time, I actually got to sit down with Philip Rosedale. Never thought I’d say that. The guy’s back as CTO at Linden Lab, the big name behind Second Life. Kind of wild visiting the offices of what’s pretty much the first mainstream metaverse.

No joke, the whole experience was super cool. Philip and I had this private chat, and let me tell you — the guy leaves quite the impression. Friendly, sure, but also just full of ideas. Like, they’re spilling out of him. It’s rare to run into someone like that, you know? Bright minds are always a delight, and Philip fits right in there.

The convo went so smoothly that I decided, why not snag a quick public interview? Didn’t plan it, just rolled with it. Ten minutes between our meet-up and his next thing, and I tossed him some questions about the big tech trends. We covered a ton of ground — mixed reality, AI, that scary "metaverse" word. His insights? Intriguing, to say the least. Particularly when he pointed out that tech isn’t quite ready for the metaverse to hit the mainstream. I mean, makes sense why VRChat’s doing better than Horizon Worlds right now.

Oh, by the way, if videos are your thing, you can catch the full interview below. But if reading’s more your style, I whipped up a transcript after it. Seriously, I was buzzing with excitement chatting with him. Another full-on interview in the future? I’d jump at the chance. Enjoy this snippet!

Tony: Hey, folks! I’m here with the legend himself, Philip Rosedale.

Philip: Hey there, nice to be here.

Tony: So yeah, standing in the Second Life spot, which is just mind-blowing for me. Never stepped foot here before. Got a quick moment with you, Philip, to fire some questions. The word “Metaverse,” people won’t even touch it now. Like it’s a taboo or something. What’s happening? Is social VR done for? A fad? What’s your take?

Philip: Not over, nope. Still millions hanging in virtual worlds, tossing on VR headsets daily in places like Second Life and VRChat. Yet, it didn’t blow up mainstream, sort of like Second Life. But I believe that will change. Right now, sure, it’s decent, but for a limited crowd. We touched on it earlier — what’s going to make these worlds more open to the masses. But, current VR headsets, well, they’re not cutting it.

Tony: Yeah, they definitely need upgrades — comfort, resolution, you name it. But creators like us, we’re a bit stuck. Meta, Google, they’ve got the cash. What about us ordinary folks? Any advice for improving the scene?

Philip: The standout spots are ones inviting creativity and oddity. Second Life thrived because it welcomed experiments — art, quirky events, you name it. That kind of creativity fuels these worlds. Business meetings, school — great, in theory. But comfort’s still an issue. So let’s champion the quirky uses of VR to craft fresh experiences.

Tony: That’s on point. Virtual worlds offer a haven, especially now with everything feeling scarier, and perhaps, overly simplistic. A space for diverse thoughts and experiences is much needed.

Philip: Absolutely. Spaces like Second Life or VRChat give people an open refuge. I’m thrilled working on Second Life, where folks live good lives away from… well, the outside chaos. There’s value in that.

Tony: Speaking of virtual hangouts, mixed reality’s got me curious. Your thoughts on socializing there?

Philip: Big issue — can’t block someone’s eyes. Super uncomfortable, right? So, headsets not covering eyes are crucial. There’s headway, I’ve seen some cool prototypes. And we need a social contract for mixed reality. It’s about consent, like what info we share with each other. These privacy concerns can’t be overlooked.

Tony: Only got a minute left, but gotta ask—AI friends, yay or nay? You connected people your whole career. What’s your view?

Philip: Bit of both. Connecting folks, that’s been my jam forever. Real connections, not substitutes. AI’s risky, it might steer us away from genuine relationships. But it can also enhance human interactions. We need to tread carefully, making ethical choices over business ones. Let’s not lose real connections over digital.

Tony: Last bit, Philip, what’s your parting wisdom for innovators?

Philip: With AI advancing avatars and expressions, we’re close to amazing virtual experiences. Innovators, think about making avatars more lifelike. AI’s key. We’re not yet there, but soon — virtual worlds will unite us positively. Thanks for listening, folks. And huge thanks to Philip for sharing his time.

Philip: Take care. Glad to be here.