2022 Work Trend Index: Annual Report The metaverse is coming to work We also asked respondents about emerging technologies at work. “Avatars and the metaverse bring us one feel more natural.” • 16% of employees say they step closer to making people feel like they’re • 52% of employees are open to using never expect to do any work in together even when they are physically apart,” digital immersive spaces in the metaverse the metaverse. says Mar Gonzalez Franco, principal researcher for meetings or team activities in the • 13% of employees say they don’t know at Microsoft Research. “Our early research next year. what the term ‘metaverse’ means. shows that when compared to an audio-only • 47% of employees are open to call, people feel more engaged, more present, representing themselves as an avatar in Leaders need to consider how and even more comfortable when using meetings in the next year. emerging technologies like the metaverse an avatar in a meeting. The people you are • 51% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials and AI can augment collaboration and speaking with are better able to see your body envision doing some of their work in the facilitate co-creation and creativity in a language, and back-and-forth conversations metaverse in the next two years. distributed work world. Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to envision doing some of their work in the metaverse in the next two years.