Nick Clegg at Web Summit 2021: Meta's Collaborative Metaverse Vision

Meta’s Return to the Limelight at Web Summit 2021

After a two-year digital getaway due to COVID-19, the world’s biggest tech jamboree, the Web Summit, is back in physical form. Featuring 42,751 attendees from 128 countries, roughly half of whom are incredible women (the highest number in the history of the event!), it’s safe to say that the tech universe is shining a bit brighter. Entrepreneurs, influencers and organizations are soaking up this bustling hub of innovation and exchange, bringing the excitement back to networking.

Nick Clegg and His Vision for the Metaverse

During an engaging panel moderated by Matthew Garrahan of the Financial Times, Nick Clegg, Meta’s Vice President for Global Affairs and Communications, graced the stage with his signature joviality. He underscored the cryptocratic development of the innovative Meta project when he quipped, “We’re not building the metaverse alone; we’re building for it!” It seems the Metaverse is not just Zuckerberg’s playground after all. Perhaps Mark should keep the merry-go-round of ideas spinning!

The Importance of Openness and Collaboration

Clegg delved into the ethical undertones of Meta’s ambitious venture—efforts to foster collaboration over competition. “Unlike previous tech eruptions that caught us all off guard like a raccoon in a dumpster, we’re taking a proactive approach,” he stated, adding that this time society and regulation should be in on the plans from the beginning rather than trying to play catch-up.

A Politician Turned Tech Visionary

It seems our Nick is not only a whiz at diplomacy, once leading the UK as Deputy Prime Minister, but is also laying his cards on the table in the tech realm. Known for his support of personal freedoms and individual choices, Clegg’s journey from politics to tech offers a unique perspective on how to navigate the turbulent waters of innovation and responsibility.

Meta Joins the Race for the Metaverse

Following their bold pivot at Facebook Connect, Meta is now firmly in the race along with other blockchain trailblazers like Axie Infinity, Decentraland, and The Sandbox. As users prepare to explore these new realms where work meets play, Meta is stepping up to integrate non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other whimsical crypto elements, illustrating that the future might just be as colorful as we dare to make it.