AI Hardware Shifts, RAM Price Spikes, Google–Warby Parker Wearables, Meta’s MR Delays, and the Battle for AI Music Rights with Lee Kebler, Adam Davis McGee, and Ryan McMahan

In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Lee Kebler and Adam Davis McGee unpack the rapid shifts transforming AI, hardware, and creative industries. Cathy is away this week and will be back in the new year. Lee and Adam explore how RAM manufacturers are pivoting away from consumer electronics toward AI, and how this will spike gaming and device prices in 2026, why Meta’s mixed-reality delays open the door for Google’s surprising partnership with Warby Parker, and how Google may be quietly edging ahead in the AI race. In the second half, Lee speaks with Ryan McMahan, who breaks down the legal and ethical storm surrounding AI-generated music. Together, they examine copyright grey zones, artist rights, and why AI is becoming more of an accelerant for creativity than a replacement for human artistry.

Come for the tech and stay for the magic!

Key Discussion Topics:

• 01:40: RAM Shortage Will Devastate Consumer Electronics Pricing in 2026
• 06:12: Meta's Mixed Reality Delay & the Battle Between Google and Meta
• 11:29: Why Google Will Win the AI Race Over OpenAI
• 23:52: AI Music Generation and the Copyright Crisis on Spotify
• 33:28: Meet Ryan McMahan: Artist Manager Fighting for Creator Rights
• 35:34: Blanco Brown's Story: From Platinum to Fighting AI
• 38:50: The First Major Artist Covers an AI-Generated Song
• 40:45: Understanding Covers vs. Derivatives in Copyright Law
• 45:51: AI as a Creative Tool, Not a Job Replacement
• 50:32: The Fast Fashion Problem in Modern Music Production
• 57:31: Independent Artists Need Representation at Policy Tables
• 01:01:45: Creative Industry Workers Share AI Concerns and Opportunities
• 01:04:17: Meta's Consent Prompt: Is Algorithmic Boost Tied to AI Training Permission?
• 01:05:59: Key Takeaways: AI, Copyright, and the Future of Creative Work

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