From A(vatars) to Z(ero) Latency: Keynote at BMW XR Summit 2026

25 Mar 2026

On March 25th, 2026, Prof. Dr. Marc Erich Latoschik delivered the keynote at the BMW XR Summit 2026, hosted at the Future Lab of the BMW Group’s Digital Campus in Munich. The summit brought together researchers and industry practitioners from the automotive sector to exchange ideas on the latest developments in extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence, and interactive technologies.

The event took place at BMW’s newly established Future Lab, a space designed to foster innovation in immersive technologies and digital transformation. You can read more about the venue here.

From A(vatars) to Z(ero) Latency: Determinants of a Metaverse

In his keynote, titled “From A(vatars) to Z(ero) Latency: Determinants of a Metaverse”, Marc explored a central question: What defines a truly immersive and meaningful metaverse?

The talk began with a deep dive into hyper-realistic avatars—digital representations that mirror users down to the smallest detail. These avatars are no longer just visual stand-ins; they are becoming extensions of identity. As realism increases, so do the psychological and social implications of embodiment in virtual environments.

Building on this, the keynote highlighted how XR and AI technologies are transforming multiple domains:

• Work & Collaboration: Virtual environments enabling more natural and embodied remote interaction
• Education: Social VR platforms turning classrooms into interactive, experiential learning spaces
• Healthcare: VR applications supporting rehabilitation (e.g., post-knee surgery), obesity management, and public speaking training

These examples demonstrated how immersive technologies are moving beyond novelty into practical, impactful use cases.

The Fragility of Immersion

A core theme of the talk was that immersion is powerful—but fragile.

Even minor latency issues can disrupt the sense of presence, breaking the illusion of reality. This highlights the importance of achieving near-zero latency in XR systems, especially for applications where timing and responsiveness are critical.

Marc also addressed emerging risks and ethical challenges, including:

• Behavioral risks: such as impaired judgment in VR gambling scenarios
• Privacy concerns: particularly around biometric data collection and tracking
• Psychological effects: linked to identity, embodiment, and prolonged immersion

These challenges underline the need for careful design and governance as XR technologies scale.

Toward a Human-Centered Metaverse

The keynote concluded with a forward-looking perspective on how to shape the metaverse responsibly. Rather than focusing solely on technological advancement, Marc emphasized the importance of:

• Developing human-centered XR systems
• Establishing ethical frameworks and safeguards
• Ensuring accessibility, safety, and trust in immersive environments

By combining technical innovation with responsible design, the metaverse can evolve into a space that is not only immersive, but also inclusive, safe, and meaningful.

The BMW XR Summit 2026 provided a valuable platform for dialogue between academia and industry, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping the future of immersive technologies.