Creator of the Metaverse Calls Meta’s Glasses Creepy

Neal Stephenson may not have created the virtual reality headset, but his influence on the concept of the metaverse is undeniable. In his 1992 cyberpunk classic, *Snow Crash*, he introduced the term “Metaverse” to describe a virtual reality realm accessed through VR goggles. This idea has fueled the ambitions of many VR developers, leading to Facebook’s rebranding as Meta in 2021 to pursue that metaverse vision.

However, Stephenson has recently shifted his perspective on face-worn technology. He finds Meta’s glasses unsettling, stating, “People don’t like wearing things on their faces and don’t trust those who do.” He argues that in a world dominated by smartphones, the case for headsets has diminished: “There is no business case for headsets anymore.”

Reflecting on his past views, he recalls his time at Magic Leap, where he would pose the question: “Do you really think that twenty years from now everyone is still going to be going around all day staring at little rectangles in their hands?” Back then, he believed the answer was a resounding no. Now, he admits, “Reader, I have changed my mind. Twenty years from now, everyone is still going to be staring at handheld rectangles. Or at least that is the case if the only alternative is wearing things on their faces.”

Stephenson also believes that simply downsizing headsets to the size of glasses won’t solve the issue as long as they remain off-putting. In a recent blog post, he seems to align with Meta, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, and possibly Google, which is quietly developing a new category of “metaverse” applications. He suggests that the term “Metaverse” can encompass simpler, flat games, which is convenient for these companies, especially since the creator of the term is open to this broader interpretation. However, his concerns about the creepiness of the hardware could pose a challenge for its acceptance.