Keanu Reeves, the Hollywood star behind the trilogy “The Matrix” is over the moon about crypto, metaverse, and NFT. In a recent interview with Cable on Tuesday in line with the promotion of the latest film John Wick 4, Reeves said:
“I think the principle, the idea behind an independent currency, is amazing.”
The Matrix Movie, AI Prophecy?
In fact, The Matrix (1999), is considered to be a prediction of how artificial intelligence will develop, which is embraced by the modern world today.
Although not mentioned in the original film, most fans assume that The Matrix takes place at the end of the 22nd century. The events of the film take place in a virtual environment intended to mimic the end of the 20th century, so the exact year is unknown.
The AI industry is expected to explode in the coming years. Image: Interesting Engineering.
The year 2199 is depicted as a true world outside of synthetic reality in the sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
The whole concept used to be just part of that futuristic imagination, but now it’s proof that imagination can become reality. Artificial Intelligence, as we know it, is constantly evolving and the tool is creeping into everything, even in the art of NFT.
On the topic of the metaverse, Reeves said:
“It’s a sensorium. It’s a spectacle […] control and manipulation systems. We are on our knees looking at the cave wall and looking at the projection, and we don’t have a chance to look behind. Or to the side.”
Keanu Reeves as Neo in The Matrix. Image: People.com
Reeves, who played “Neo” in the three-part Matrix flick, also recently rolled out Futureverse Foundationa charity organization launched in June 2022 by Non-Fungible Labs.
The project is in collaboration with Fluf World NFT and its partner, Alexandra Grant. The foundation was actually Grant’s idea, and Reeves showed his full support in this effort to provide more opportunities for underrepresented creative artists.
In addition, Reeves and Grant are also two advisors of the Futureverse Foundation and they work to encourage the growth of the metaverse.
Image: California Business Journal
‘Pooh-Pooh-ing’ Crypto Only Enables, Reeves Says
The famous Matrix star also announced in December 2021, that he actually owns crypto. He said a friend bought some for him and he hasn’t touched it since. Reeves was also joking the idea behind Bitcoin also came from the movie John Wick.
While Reeves was previously skeptical about the metaverse and also NFTs due to their volatile nature, he now has a strong opinion on the support that crypto will emerge stronger and more resistant than before despite the constant obstacles it has faced over the years.
“So, to pooh-pooh crypto, or the volatility of cryptocurrencies, it’s just going to make it better in terms of how it’s guarded,” the actor said, without elaborating further.
Crypto total market cap at $1 trillion on the daily chart | Chart: TradingView.com
AI Industry To Continue Developing
According to a survey by Grand View Research, the worldwide AI market is worth $62.35 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.2% between 2021 and 2028.
Major tech companies like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, IBM and Amazon are also investing heavily in AI research and development.
Meanwhile, some Hollywood celebrities who support, or have invested in crypto, Paris Hilton (socialite), Ashton Kutcher (actor), Snoop Dogg (rapper), Gwyneth Paltrow (actress), and Tom Brady (NFL quarterback).
At the time of writing, the total market cap of all cryptocurrencies is $1.4 trillion, according to data by TradingView.
-Featured image from Literary Hub