Augmented reality is a core element of the Metaverse, but it will need a global cloud-based database to reach its full potential. We’re not quite there yet, and AR headsets wouldn’t even be able to stream the complex 3D assets needed, but any future AR cloud shouldn’t be owned by a single company. In this article, Toni Witt explains the role of the AR cloud, why it is needed, and how it will be regulated.