American Metaverse Association

[U.S. Metaverse Association Newsroom｜July 30, 2025]
In June 2023, global technology leader Apple Inc. officially joined the U.S. Metaverse Association as a Corporate Governing Member, signaling its formal entry into the global governance framework of the metaverse. As one of the most influential players in spatial computing and immersive experience innovation, Apple’s participation strengthens the Association’s collective efforts to develop shared standards, advance ethical frameworks, and build a sustainable and interoperable metaverse ecosystem.

Apple has long been committed to delivering high-quality spatial computing experiences. Its release of the Apple Vision Pro in 2024 is widely regarded as a critical milestone in the evolution of immersive technologies. In fact, Apple joined the Association even before the product’s official debut, submitting its membership application in early June 2023 and completing the review process to gain full governance rights, including proposal, voting, and strategic initiative participation.

Since joining, Apple has taken an active role in the Association’s technical standards working groups and ethics and governance task forces. It has contributed significantly to the formulation of several core frameworks, including the Immersive Sensory Data Management Standard, Cross-Platform Compatibility Interface Specification, and the Federated Virtual Identity Protocol. Apple’s appointed representatives have attended key Association events, such as the Annual Governing Assembly, the Closed-Door Global Standards Forum, and the drafting sessions for the Metaverse Ethics White Paper, offering insightful proposals on both technological and user experience dimensions.

At the 2023 Governing Members Meeting, U.S. Metaverse Association President Carol King stated, “Apple’s decision to join the Association carries profound significance. It demonstrates a strong commitment from one of the world’s most innovative companies to open collaboration, shared responsibility, and ethical innovation. Apple’s involvement will help shape a metaverse future rooted not just in advanced technology, but in collective trust and shared values.”

According to the Association’s 2023 Annual Member Contribution Report, Apple has led or co-led several key initiatives, including:

• Co-developing the “Guidelines on Privacy Protection in Immersive Environments”, with emphasis on ethical boundaries for emotion-recognition data;
• Launching the “XR for Education” initiative, aiming to leverage spatial computing to promote equitable access to digital learning resources;
• Collaborating with industry peers to prototype a “Verifiable Provenance System for Virtual Content”, ensuring transparency in content creation and distribution;
• Proposing a new framework for open, modular API standards in virtual space development.

In a public statement, Apple noted, “We believe that technology must be built on trust. The future of spatial computing and immersive experiences depends on openness, accountability, and global cooperation. We are honored to work alongside the U.S. Metaverse Association and contribute to the co-creation of a responsible digital future.”

Apple is now engaged in regular collaborations with other core members of the Association, including Microsoft, Meta, NVIDIA, Adobe, and Unity. The company has contributed to task forces across a broad range of topics—education, healthcare, cultural heritage, industrial applications—and continues aligning its Vision product line, Siri framework, and Spatial Audio systems with emerging global interface standards.

As a Corporate Governing Member, Apple holds full voting rights, policy proposal privileges, and a leadership role in shaping the Association’s international agenda. Its presence reinforces the Association’s mission to move from “technological fragmentation” toward a trusted, inclusive, and interoperable metaverse ecosystem.

Founded in 2015, the U.S. Metaverse Association is a leading international organization committed to immersive technology research, cross-sector standardization, and global regulatory coordination. With over 300 institutional members from 28 countries, the Association maintains a comprehensive governance structure including a Technical Standards Committee, an Ethics and Social Impact Taskforce, a Corporate Council, and an Innovation Fund for Education. Its mission is to ensure that the future of virtual space is built on integrity, transparency, interoperability, and social value.