Shanghai is accelerating the development of the metaverse, focusing on creating new technology to boost industrial efficiency and consumption to support the economy, according to proposals presented at the ongoing Shanghai Two Sessions.

The ethics of the new technology have also been hotly contested, said members of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Shanghai is the first city in the country to draw up a long-term plan for the development of metaverse applications, which connect the virtual and real worlds with advanced technology. The city aims to boost the metaverse industry with an expected output of 350 billion yuan (50 billion US dollars) by 2025.

In the metaverse industry, the core technology…