There is no substitute for genuine face-to-face authentic interaction. I could be "present" on 100 zoom calls and it would not make up for the lack of being present with someone face-to-face. On a side note, what kind of artificial world is being created? I have visions of people sitting alone in their tiny apartment with their VR goggles strapped around their head actually thinking they are living. They will require their "soma" each and every day (term from Aldous Huxley's book, "A Brave New World.") This sounds like a hellacious nightmare, but it's soon to become a dystopia reality. I hope you're right, Gato! I hope this quickly leads to more face-to-face interaction and authentic relationship. Otherwise, loneliness will overtake every aspect of our culture/society.