{"id":2024,"date":"2025-06-24T14:19:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T14:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/?page_id=2024"},"modified":"2025-07-24T13:03:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T13:03:43","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"    <div class=\"ituContainer grid\">\n        <div data-span=\"12\">\n                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d10c2501cf37c167f21eae47314f47e0\" style=\"font-size:30px\">Partnering for Real-World Impact of AI-Powered Virtual Worlds<\/h2>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), and Digital Dubai, the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI \u2013 Discovering the Citiverse is a multistakeholder platform dedicated to shaping the next generation of AI-powered virtual worlds. <\/p>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These immersive digital environments are transforming how people live, learn, govern, and interact. The Initiative ensures that AI-powered virtual worlds evolve in ways that are inclusive, interoperable, and human-centric\u2014and that they help deliver on the Pact for the Future and its Global Digital Compact.<\/p>\n<\/div>                                <p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/partners\/\" class=\"ituBtn\" >\n            <strong>Meet the Champions and Supporters<\/strong>        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n\n                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Purpose and Mission<\/h2>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Initiative serves as a neutral, action-oriented platform that connects cities, governments, UN entities, companies, academia, and civil society to shape the development and deployment of AI-powered virtual worlds. It is designed to:<\/p>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>Develop <strong>global frameworks<\/strong> for policy, governance, inclusion, safety, and technical interoperability in AI-powered virtual worlds<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>Accelerate innovation through a <strong>global sandbox<\/strong> where cities can test, pilot, and scale real-world applications<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><strong>Unite global efforts <\/strong>to deliver on the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>Foster <strong>capacity building and knowledge sharing<\/strong> through toolkits, training, events, and open learning opportunities<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>                                    <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n            <div class=\"ituBtnGroup\">\n                                        <p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Mission-statement-new.pdf\" class=\"ituBtn ituBtnGroup_btn\" >\n            <strong>Mission<\/strong> <strong>Statement<\/strong>        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n\n                                        <p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Vision-document.pdf\" class=\"ituBtn ituBtnGroup_btn\" >\n            <strong>Vision Document<\/strong>        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Makes This Initiative Different?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Initiative stands out for its real-world focus, its commitment to global multistakeholder collaboration, and its ability to bridge policy and implementation. It bridges vision and action\u2014offering cities and partners the tools they need to shape the future of AI-powered virtual worlds:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>A taxonomy of use cases for cities and innovators<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>A sandbox for real-world experimentation<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>A global platform for dialogue, partnerships, and solution-sharing<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>Clear principles for safe, inclusive, and interoperable virtual worlds<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>A growing Network of Cities committed to collaboration and shared learning<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>A dynamic venue to foster innovation across sectors and regions<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li>And more&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By aligning strategy with experimentation, and vision with results, the Initiative enables partners to shape the future of AI-powered virtual worlds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:30px\">Structure: Pillars and Tracks<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Initiative advances its mission through three strategic pillars, each supported by dedicated tracks that tackle the most pressing opportunities and challenges in AI-powered virtual worlds. These pillars represent a comprehensive and inclusive approach\u2014from developing global guidelines to driving real-world implementation in cities around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/pillar1\"><strong>Pillar 1 \u2013 Bringing Virtual Worlds to Life<\/strong><\/a><br>Establishing foundational guidance, trust, accessibility, and awareness<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/pillar2\"><strong>Pillar 2 \u2013 Connecting Cities with the Virtual and Real Worlds<\/strong><\/a><br>Empowering cities through use cases, tools, training, and technology exchange<\/li>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/pillar3\"><strong>Pillar 3 \u2013 Tunneling the Citiverse<\/strong><\/a><br>Creating global momentum through events, challenges, talent programmes, and city networks<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:30px\">Participation and Engagement<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More information about partnership and engagement is available <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/tor-roles\/\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To express interest in joining, please contact us at <a href=\"mailto:virtualworlds@itu.int\">virtualworlds@itu.int<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\"><strong>Return to the main page of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI ><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to the main page of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI ><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":1175,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2024","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2024\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}