A forum discussing key technological breakthroughs, practical applications, business ecology construction and talent cultivation for the metaverse was held at Pudong International Talent Port in Shanghai on Friday.

The forum served as a platform for academics, research institute experts, industry leaders and talented individuals to exchange cutting-edge ideas. It also assisted meaningful discussion and provided valuable recommendations regarding Shanghai's strategies in fostering new industries and establishing itself as an international digital capital. The event garnered more than 200 people onsite and an additional 12,000 people tuned in to the forum via an online broadcast.

Tan Jianrong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, shed light on crucial aspects of the metaverse. He elaborated on fundamental concepts such as the definition of the metaverse, methods to comprehend its intricacies, its distinguishing features and strategies for cultivating the industry.

Ma Lizhuang, deputy-dean of the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Mao Shijie, vice-president of Lenovo Group and head of Lenovo Research Shanghai and Tao Chuang, founder and chairman of Wayz.ai shared their insights on AI generated content technology, the convergence of the digital and real worlds and the construction of a metaverse city.

A roundtable session was held for business representatives and experts to exchange opinions on the research and development of key metaverse technologies and their industrial applications.

Ma said that metaverse technology will bring significant changes to various aspects of people's lives, including entertainment and education. It offers people the opportunities to immerse themselves in more breathtaking virtual environments. Ma also emphasized the importance of embracing a spirit of exploration and innovation, saying: "… we should maintain a positive and curious outlook towards new technologies".

Mao shared optimism on the progress of the metaverse industry. "Metaverse, a new carrier to support integrated development of the digital economy and the physical economy, can provide more digital services and experiences, injecting new vitality into the physical economy," said Mao.

"Enterprises could use metaverse technologies to carry out projects which are difficult or expensive in the real world. Meanwhile, metaverse could also help to enhance the decision-making and collaboration efficiency of humans and robots, truly achieving empowerment of each other," Mao added.

During the forum, the latest innovative achievements in the field of metaverse from companies such as SenseTime, Lenovo Research Shanghai, Wayz.ai and DGene were showcased.

"The technological innovation and transformation in the field of metaverse are exciting, marking an unprecedented era. Shanghai is pleased to embrace such technological changes and hold this forum. We must continue to focus on technological innovation and seek development and breakthroughs in this phenomenally transformative era," said Tao.