EP.57: Into the Metaverse with Jonathan Pan - Head of Product, Store No. 8
Jul 5, 2023
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Jonathan Pan, Head of Product at Store No. 8, discusses the practical metaverse, the role of emerging technologies in the metaverse, the advantages of Roblox's developer community, and his excitement for the next five years.
Pan defines the metaverse as virtual worlds, virtual items, and avatars, and emphasizes the importance of focusing on practical aspects rather than theoretical ideas.
Pan highlights Roblox as the leader in the practical metaverse, with its platform allowing users to create virtual worlds, items, and experiences, and its integration of generative AI.
Deep dives
Defining the Practical Metaverse
The guest, Jonathan Pan, defines the metaverse as virtual worlds, virtual items, and avatars. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on what is currently here and improving upon it rather than getting caught up in theoretical ideas. By using this practical definition, it becomes easier to discuss topics like virtual items and virtual worlds within companies and with partners. Pan notes that the theoretical metaverse often comes with baggage and confusion, so he prefers to stick to the practical aspects.
Emerging Technologies in Relation to the Metaverse
Pan explains that blockchain, generative AI, and digital twins are separate technologies that can contribute to the evolution of the metaverse. He sees web3 as anything decentralized, and regards NFTs as a significant aspect of web3. Pan also mentions the potential of generative AI to enhance the creation of virtual worlds and items, making it easier for developers to bring their ideas to life. While there is overlap between these emerging technologies, Pan sees each one as distinct but capable of complementing each other in various metaverse experiences.
Roblox Leading in the Practical Metaverse
Pan highlights that Roblox is the leader in the practical metaverse, providing a platform where users can create virtual worlds, items, and experiences. He notes that Roblox has taken inspiration from NFTs by introducing limited items, which are comparable philosophically. Additionally, Pan mentions Roblox's efforts to integrate generative AI, which allows creators to build virtual worlds and items using AI-assisted tools. He also discusses the concept of the playground and the stage, emphasizing the popularity of games like Minecraft and Roblox as platforms that enable both user creativity and content consumption.
The Landscape of Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite
Pan predicts that in the next two to three years, Roblox will continue to lead as a platform, with Fortnite competing strongly in a slightly older age group. He sees Minecraft as a potential competitor to Roblox, but notes that Minecraft's direction may not align closely with Roblox and Fortnite. Pan also mentions the importance of user-generated content (UGC) and the ease of creating experiences within platforms. While there may be new and emerging platforms harnessing generative AI and other technologies, Pan believes that Roblox's strong developer community and focus on community-building will continue to make it a leader in the metaverse space.
This week Yon welcomes Jonathan Pan into the metaverse. Jonathan is the Head of Product at Store No. 8, the incubation arm of Walmart. Between his current role and his prior stops at companies such as Riot Games, Amazon, and Meta, Jonathan has built a long track record of working in and on emerging technologies where he can let his passion for building content and teams thrive.
During their conversation Yon and Jonathan discuss how emerging technologies will both contribute to and complement the metaverse, break down key insights from Jonathan’s article on the practical metaverse, lay out the advantages Roblox’s dedicated developer community affords them, and much more.
Chapters:
Introducing Jonathan Pan (00:25)
How Jon Defines the Metaverse (01:25)
How Do Emerging Technologies (AI, Blockchain, Etc) Contribute to and Complement the Metaverse (04:30)
Key Insights from Jonathan’s Article on the Practical Metaverse (08:30)
First Time Realizing the Potential of Roblox and Minecraft as Platforms (12:30)
What Will Still Be True About Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft Three to Five Years From Now (17:45)
The Advantage of Roblox’s Dedicated Developer Community (22:40)
One Thing Jonathan is Most Excited For in Next Five Years (29:30)
Learn more about Jonathan and Store No. 8 by visiting their website.
To read Jonathan’s article The Practical Metaverse visit here.