Standards Readiness Level (SRL) Scale
The SRL scale provides a common framework for assessing the maturity of technologies relative to standardization.
| Level | Label | Description | Evidence Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRL-1 | Concept | Problem identified, no solutions | Published problem statement |
| SRL-2 | Research | Academic/research solutions exist | Peer-reviewed papers |
| SRL-3 | Prototype | Working prototypes demonstrated | Demo or proof-of-concept |
| SRL-4 | Pilot | Limited real-world deployment | Case studies, pilot reports |
| SRL-5 | Early Adoption | Multiple independent implementations | Market reports, user counts |
| SRL-6 | Growth | Significant market presence | Revenue/usage data |
| SRL-7 | Mainstream | Widely adopted, de facto standard | Industry surveys |
| SRL-8 | Mature | Formal standards exist and adopted | SDO publications |
| SRL-9 | Universal | Ubiquitous, assumed infrastructure | No alternatives considered |
Domain Maturity Scorecard
Current assessment of AI-generated virtual environments across key dimensions.
| Dimension | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Maturity | SRL-5 Early | Multiple production systems (Marble, Meshy, Roblox Cube); $230M+ funding for World Labs alone |
| Standards Coverage | SRL-3 Prototype | glTF/USD cover geometry; neural formats (3DGS) draft only; AI metadata nonexistent |
| Interoperability | SRL-3 Prototype | Tools export to glTF but with quality issues; neural-to-mesh lossy; platform lock-in common |
| Market Adoption | SRL-5 Early | 3M+ Meshy users; Roblox AI tools in production; Meta Horizon AI deployed |
| Overall | SRL-4 Pilot | Technology ahead of standards; interoperability is the bottleneck |
Key Insight
Technology is advancing faster than standards can track.
The gap between Technology Maturity (SRL-5) and Standards Coverage (SRL-3) represents the primary opportunity for MSF intervention.
Dimension Details
Technology Maturity (SRL-5)
Multiple production-ready systems demonstrate the technology is viable:
| System | Evidence of Maturity |
|---|---|
| World Labs Marble | $230M+ funding, production SaaS |
| Meshy | 3M+ users, 30M+ assets |
| Roblox Cube | Open-sourced 1.8B model, production deployment |
| Meta Horizon AI | Production since April 2024, +31% world publishes |
| NVIDIA Cosmos | 300K+ users, 252 companies |
Standards Coverage (SRL-3)
Formal standards lag behind technology:
| Area | Status | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Geometry | Full coverage (glTF, USD) | None |
| Neural Formats | Draft (KHR_gaussian_splatting) | No ratification timeline |
| AI Metadata | None | Critical gap |
| Provenance | None (C2PA lacks 3D) | Critical gap |
Interoperability (SRL-3)
Cross-system content movement is fragmented:
| Challenge | Status |
|---|---|
| Platform lock-in | Roblox, Horizon, Fortnite all closed |
| Neural-to-mesh conversion | Lossy (~15% quality loss) |
| Generation metadata | No standard schema |
| Topology quality | Variable, often physics-incompatible |
Market Adoption (SRL-5)
Significant commercial deployment exists:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Meshy users | 3M+ |
| Meshy assets generated | 30M+ |
| Blockade Labs users | 1.5M+ |
| Roblox AI code adoption | 535M characters |
| Horizon AI impact | +31% world publishes |
Maturity Trajectory
Projected development over 1 and 3 year horizons.
Maturity Trajectory Projections
| Dimension | Current | 1-Year | 3-Year | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | SRL-5 | SRL-6 | SRL-7 | HIGH |
| Standards | SRL-3 | SRL-4 | SRL-6 | MEDIUM |
| Interoperability | SRL-3 | SRL-4 | SRL-5 | MEDIUM |
| Market Adoption | SRL-5 | SRL-6 | SRL-7 | HIGH |
| Dimension | Current | 1-Year | 3-Year | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | SRL-5 | SRL-6 | SRL-7 | HIGH |
| Standards | SRL-3 | SRL-4 | SRL-6 | MEDIUM |
| Interoperability | SRL-3 | SRL-4 | SRL-5 | MEDIUM |
| Market Adoption | SRL-5 | SRL-6 | SRL-7 | HIGH |
Trajectory Notes
-
Technology is advancing faster than standards can track - HIGH confidence in continued growth
-
Standards projection assumes MSF and Khronos active engagement; without intervention, may stall at SRL-4
-
Interoperability improvement depends on platform cooperation - inherently uncertain
-
Market Adoption follows technology - consumers adopt tools regardless of standards
Implications
Without Intervention
If no standards work is undertaken:
- Technology continues to SRL-7 (mainstream)
- Standards stall at SRL-3-4 (fragmented)
- Interoperability remains at SRL-3 (platform silos)
- Market develops around proprietary ecosystems
With MSF Action
If recommended standards work proceeds:
- Standards reach SRL-6 within 3 years
- Interoperability improves to SRL-5
- Cross-platform content movement becomes feasible
- Industry consolidates around shared standards
Assessment Confidence
| Aspect | Confidence | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Current SRL scores | HIGH | Based on multiple data sources |
| 1-year projections | MEDIUM-HIGH | Near-term trends observable |
| 3-year projections | MEDIUM | Depends on standards activities |
| Platform cooperation | LOW | Business decisions unpredictable |
Assessment Methodology
This maturity assessment was conducted using:
- Implementation Analysis - Direct examination of 35+ tools and platforms
- Standards Review - SDO documentation and draft specifications
- Market Data - User counts, funding, adoption metrics
- Expert Input - AI x Metaverse Working Group consensus
Assessment Date: January 2026 Next Review: Q3 2026