The metaverse is the next evolution in digital connection, enabling richer social experiences, solving problems in today’s internet, and unlocking many opportunities across a range of industries. In the metaverse, Avatars will be your digital representation and how you are embodied; they will enable you to feel present with others. But how do we build an Avatar system that can be representative of billions of people around the world? And how do you create continuity across today’s social and messaging experiences with tomorrow’s more immersive ones, such as VR and AR? In this talk, we will share insights from working through the product & technical challenges of building a scalable avatar system from the ground up.