As a concept that is somewhat under emergence, the notion of the Metaverse varies across different academic articles. Yet there is a shared view on the benefits to its ongoing implementation, particularly for digital art, where the technology can provide a new metric for artists to showcase and sell their artwork to a global audience with minimal barriers, and for consumers to have an unbounded experience not limited by physical space or museum entry fees. In this article, a contribution is provided to a broader conversation about the future of the digital art and the Metaverse and its role in shaping our online culture. We discuss the concept of the Metaverse, its structure, the role of artificial intelligence and the benefits (and limitations) the technology holds for digital art. For a case study, we develop a 3D art gallery housing an art collection generated using artificial-intelligence-based techniques such as diffusion models. A total of 67 individuals are surveyed from three pools (two in-person and one online-based), with questions relating to the future of digital art, the Metaverse and artificial intelligence. Findings include that the majority of participants were familiar with the concept of the Metaverse and overall, they had a predominately optimistic view of both the use artificial intelligence for art, and the use of the Metaverse to support digital art, with 85.3% of the participants having already seen artificial-intelligence-based artwork. The identification of consumer segments further highlights the importance of finding customised solutions, considering consumers’ heterogenous preferences for AI-generated art. Research presented in this article will be beneficial for those looking to explore the Metaverse for artwork and develop virtual galleries, and the findings further highlight the Metaverse as a potential democratising force in the art world.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies into agriculture presents a transformative opportunity to modernize education and sustainable food production. Traditional agriculture training remains resource-intensive, time-consuming, and geographically restrictive, limiting scalability. This study explores an AI-driven Digital Twin (DT) system embedded within a gamified XR environment designed to enhance decision-making, resource management, and practical training in viticulture as well as woody crop management. A survey among stakeholders in the viticultural sector revealed that participants are increasingly open to adopting Virtual Reality (VR) combined with AI-enhanced technologies, signaling a readiness for digital learning transformation in the field. The survey revealed a 4.48/7 willingness to adopt XR-based training, a 4.85/7 interest in digital solutions for precision agriculture, and a moderate climate change concern of 4.16/7, indicating a strong readiness for digital learning transformation. Our findings confirm that combining AI-powered virtual educators with DT simulations provides interactive, real-time feedback, allowing users to experiment with vineyard management strategies in a risk-free setting. Unlike previous studies focusing on crop monitoring or AI-based decision support, this study examines the potential of combining Digital Twins (DTs) with AI-driven personal assistants to improve decision-making, resource management, and overall productivity in agriculture. Proof-of-concept implementations in Unity and Oculus Quest 3 demonstrate how AI-driven NPC educators can personalize training, simulate climate adaptation strategies, and enhance stakeholder engagement. The research employs a design-oriented approach, integrating feedback from industry experts and end-users to refine the educational and practical applications of DTs in agriculture. Furthermore, this study highlights proof-of-concept implementations using the Unity cross game engine platform, showcasing virtual environments where students can interact with AI-powered educators in simulated vineyard settings. Digital innovations support students and farmers in enhancing crop yields and play an important role in educating the next generation of digital farmers.

Digital Twins are digital equivalents of real-life objects. They allow producers to act immediately in case of (expected) deviations and to simulate effects of interventions based on real-life data. Digital Twin and eXtended Reality technologies (including Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality technologies), when coupled, are promising solutions to address the challenges of highly regulated crop production, namely the complexity of modern production environments for pharmaceutical cannabis, which are growing constantly as a result of legislative changes. Cannabis farms not only have to meet very high quality standards and regulatory requirements but also have to deal with high production and market uncertainties, including energy considerations. Thus, the main contributions of the research include an architecture design for eXtended-Reality-based Digital Twins for pharmaceutical cannabis production and a proof of concept, which was demonstrated at the Wageningen University Digital Twins conference. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 30 participants who provided feedback on the application. The findings indicate that, despite 70% being unfamiliar with the concept, 80% of the participants were positive regarding the innovation and creativity.

The digital transformation of the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) sector is a multifaceted process that must address a range of requirements and critical challenges, such as traceability, long-term preservation, and sustainability. The potential of disruptive technologies to revolutionize this sector is significant, offering new ways to overcome these challenges and align with the broader objectives of smart cities. While substantial research has been conducted on the digital transformation of the GLAM sector, many opportunities remain unexplored by various stakeholders. This paper contributes to the field by proposing a reference architecture rooted in a design-oriented approach for developing and implementing processes related to the digital transformation within the context of smart cities. To illustrate the practical application of the proposed architecture, a proof of concept was developed in the form of an immersive digital gallery, which features an AI-powered virtual storyteller. The gallery, built using the open, cross-platform, Unreal, incorporates digitized physical art and a virtual metahuman tutor who guides users through the gallery. This interactive 3D environment enables users to explore the space, engage with artworks, and interact with a virtual guide. The environment’s performance was evaluated using a keystroke-level model analysis. Key findings from a pilot study involving 10 users showed that, when directed by the AI storyteller, the average time to locate an artwork was 16.5 s, while the average time to ask a question was 15.8 s. By integrating such technologies, the GLAM sector can contribute to the cultural fabric of smart cities, fostering more sustainable, accessible, and interactive public spaces.