Reimagining Collaboration in XR Lessons from the Global Collaboration Village 2025

Amazon Experience Uniting art and technology for Amazonian preservationThe challenge Preserving the Amazon Rainforest – a vital cultural and ecological system – requires not only environmental action but also public empathy and cultural connection. Yet global audiences often remain distant from the Amazon’s realities, and many are sceptical about whether emerging technologies such as the metaverse can contribute meaningfully to cultural preservation and awareness. The Village’s role The Amazon immersive space responded by fusing generative AI, music, dance, visual art and spoken word into a multisensory cultural experience. Powered by Refik Anadol’s data-driven AI art and the collaborative anthem “Nós Somos Amazonia” (We Are Amazonia) by Müller & Makaroff featuring Flavia Coelho, the experience transported participants into the emotional and ecological landscape of the Amazon. It enabled global users to connect with the region’s richness and fragility – bridging distance through multisensory formats that sparked personal connection. Participants Artists, technologists, environmental advocates and cultural leaders engaged with the space during the 2024 Annual Meeting, using it to reflect on the Amazon’s significance and to spark discussion about digital storytelling for conservation. Key moment Participants stood within an evolving AI-generated rainforest while hearing Indigenous voices and rhythms layered with data visuals – creating a powerful moment of sensory immersion that reframed how the Amazon could be experienced and understood. It can be challenging to find impactful ways to raise awareness and foster deep empathy for vital issues – like the preservation of the Amazon Rainforest and its Indigenous peoples. The Cultural Experience within the Global Collaboration Village is a transformative approach that immerses participants in the heart of the Amazon through art, technology and music.” Joseph Fowler, Head, Arts and Culture, World Economic Forum2024USE CASE 2 18Copyright: © Global Collaboration Village: World Economic Forum, Accenture and Microsoft. All rights reserved Reimagining Collaboration in XR: Lessons from the Global Collaboration Village 18