“Playing God”: How the metaverse will challenge our very notion of free will

The article discusses ethical concerns surrounding the potential for advanced AI systems in the metaverse to manipulate users' decision-making processes, challenging notions of autonomy and free will.

Overview

Authors: Louis Rosenberg

Publication Date: 25 October 2025

Link: https://bigthink.com/the-future/playing-god-metaverse-mind-control-free-will/

Keywords: decision-making manipulation, ethical AI, cognitive liberty, autonomy risks, persuasive design, digital psychology, online free will, behavioral tracking, neuroethics, human-AI interaction

Type: Peer-Reviewed Journals/White Papers

Summary

The article discusses ethical concerns surrounding the potential for advanced AI systems in the metaverse to manipulate users' decision-making processes, challenging notions of autonomy and free will.