In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler explore the fascinating, funny, and sometimes unsettling intersection between humans and machines. From Cathy’s “shopping date” with humanoid robot Maximus to Amazon’s ambitious plans to automate its warehouses, the hosts unpack how AI and robotics are reshaping work and daily life. They also discuss Samsung’s entry into the XR race with the Galaxy headset, the return of Bored Ape Yacht Club’s metaverse project, and innovations like direct-to-vinyl recording. With equal parts humour and insight, Cathy and Lee decode how today’s emerging technologies are redefining what’s possible, and what’s still human.

Come for the tech and stay for the magic!

Cathy Hackl Bio

Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming.

Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more.

Cathy Hackl on LinkedIn

Spatial Dynamics on LinkedIn

Lee Kebler Bio

Lee has been at the forefront of blending technology and entertainment since 2003, creating advanced studios for icons like Will.i.am and producing music for Britney Spears and Big & Rich. Pioneering in VR since 2016, he has managed enterprise data at Nike, led VR broadcasting for Intel at the Japan 2020 Olympics, and driven large-scale marketing campaigns for Walmart, Levi’s, and Nasdaq. A TEDx speaker on enterprise VR, Lee is currently authoring a book on generative AI and delving into splinternet theory and data privacy as new tech laws unfold across the US.

Lee Kebler on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics:

00:00 Intro: Welcome to Tech Magic with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler
01:30 Shopping with Maximus: A Human-Robot Retail Adventure
10:35 Amazon's Automation Revolution: 600,000 Jobs Going Robotic
18:30 The AI Bubble: Debating the Reality of AGI and Market Hype
28:40 Understanding ChatGPT's Limitations and Technical Challenges
37:00 Samsung Galaxy XR: A New Player in the XR Hardware Space
43:50 Amazon's HUD Glasses and the Future of Spatial Computing
50:25 Bored Ape Yacht Club Returns with "Otherside" Metaverse Project
54:58 Upcoming Events and a Deep Dive into Vintage Audio Technology

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Cathy at Nvidia’s GTC, Advances in Robotics, Cathy Goes Shopping with a Humanoid Robot, Samsung XR’s Future, Bored Apes Are Back and r what happened at Vogue Singapore's Next in Vogue and Singularity U South Africa Summit