Society Without People: How AI and Metaverse Will Impact the Future

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As artificial intelligence and immersive digital worlds accelerate at unprecedented speed, one pressing question emerges: What will happen to human relationships, identity and society when more of everyday life is blended with these powerful technologies? 

In a new research-driven project, sociologist Christopher M. Pieper, Ph.D., senior lecturer of sociology at Baylor University, examines how rapidly advancing technologies – including generative AI, mixed‑r

eality platforms and the global Metaverse – may reshape the foundations of social life. 

“People are hungry to talk about what these technologies are doing to us,” Pieper said. “From AI companions to virtual identities, we’re watching the definition of a ‘person’ evolve in real time.”

While many may think of the Metaverse primarily as virtual reality gaming, which currently draws more than 700 million users a month, Pieper said the rise of AI-generated avatars, chatbots and algorithm-driven digital personas is rapidly changing how users construct identity online and how it impacts their daily lives. 

Influence of gamism

To investigate whether society is prepared for the moral, relational and cultural consequences of these tools, especially as they become deeply embedded in daily routines, Pieper, along with Justin J. Nelson, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology at Campbell University (BU Ph.D. ‘19), originated the theory of “gamism.”

The researchers define “gamism” as the dominant ideology of our digital future – one that makes all experiences competitive, quantifiable, commercialized and entertaining for the individual user. They argue that game-like interactions will increasingly influence how people understand themselves and engage in social institutions as more time is spent in virtual and augmented reality spaces, suggesting four possible outcomes: utopian, dystopian, balanced and wild card:

• Utopian: In a utopian future, users gain unprecedented freedom to explore and express virtual identity beyond traditional social categories and physical limitations such as race, gender, age, body type and ability. Pieper said users could experiment with self-representation in ways not possible in the physical world, a flexibility that could potentially reduce discrimination rooted in these categories and create more equitable digital communities.

  In the real world, these positives would reflect in society through a greater sense of overall well-being. These would be mostly seen in declines in the “loneliness epidemic” and higher feelings of belonging and mattering, Pieper said. 

  “We would have more people in the workforce, who are generally happier, with lower rates of mental illness and lower crime rates,” Pieper said. “In general, these technologies would be seen as bringing about a better world.”

• Dystopian: Conversely, a dystopian future could emerge if these technologies lead people to increasingly disengage from the real world, preferring the custom-made virtual worlds instead. These dark futures could also come from AI-driven deep-fakes of humans and events, further blurring the line between digital and physical realities.

  “One of our primary concerns is that heavy Metaverse users might begin to identify as their online selves, effectively dropping out of real life, rendering traditional relationships such as family, partners and intimate friendships extinct,” Pieper said. “In addition to the individual loss of self, there is also a potential for new forms of discrimination and harassment that are more easily expressed in a virtual environment. People will feel as though they're connected digitally, but their actual connection to real human beings will be almost zero.” 

  A major challenge that arises in the digital age, already evidenced in smartphone research, is what the authors call “Instagration,” or a kind of false perception of social integration and belonging, but without any of the emotional and community benefits.  

• Balanced: The most plausible scenario, the researchers said, is a mix of the utopian and dystopian outcomes. This would create a balanced digital environment that experiments with identity through the Metaverse but stays more informed about the influence of AI and potential ramifications of too much time in a virtual space. 

  “Laws would be passed to prohibit fraudulent depiction of any person or event without disclosure as made by A.I.,” Pieper said. “And the mental health effects of heavy Metaverse users would be studied, tracked and treated.” 

• Wild Card: The “wild card” scenario imagines a future where physical identity dissolves and community itself fades away. In this world, individuals are fully immersed into virtual experience – reinventing reality and relationships moment to moment. 

  “Technology, in this vision, becomes the mechanism that keeps the population euphoric, compliant and disconnected from genuine human society and culture – raising urgent political and economic warnings,” Pieper said. “While people are absorbed in endlessly stimulating Metaverse worlds, real-world institutions weaken.”

Society without people

As conversations about AI, virtual identity and digital communities continue to accelerate, Pieper emphasizes that understanding these emerging realities is no longer optional – it’s essential. 

“Our interactions, relationships and the very concept of community are shifting under the massive technological advancements of our era,” Pieper said. “Given what we already know about the individual and social impacts of social media, it goes without saying that the Metaverse will operate as all new technologies do, shaping our culture and society in countless ways – some of which might be quite predictable and others that we simply cannot foresee.”

ABOUT THE RESEARCHERS

Christopher M. Pieper, Ph.D., senior lecturer of sociology, has been on the faculty at Baylor University since 2011. His research interests include political sociology, social theory, religion and technology/media. He has published and presented widely on topics related to culture and politics, particularly the role of morality in social movements.

Justin J. Nelson, Ph.D., earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from Baylor University and joined the faculty of Campbell University in 2018, where he serves as assistant professor of sociology. His research interests include technology/media, community, family, education and religion.

The two researchers have recently published a book on this topic, “Society Without People: The Social Implications of the Metaverse and AI.” The book is Volume 34 in the De Gruyter Contemporary Social Sciences series.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.

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