Join Alvin Wang Graylin, Global VP at HTC and a leader in VR, as he discusses his impressive tech journey, from early computer experiences to his role in immersive technology. He shares insights on the convergence of AI and VR, and how these innovations can transform education and employment. Alvin reveals his experiences in the Chinese tech landscape, emphasizing the importance of networking and ethical considerations in AI tech. His perspectives on societal impact and the future of technology inspire aspiring technologists to be responsible and innovative.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Tech Introduction
Alvin Wang Graylin bought a computer with his brother after moving to the US.
This sparked his interest in programming and technology.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mentorship
Tom Furness, former chairman of the Virtual World Society, was Alvin's mentor.
Furness influenced Alvin's path in VR at the Human Interface Technology Lab.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early VR Challenges and Industry Growth
Early VR devices were costly, heavy, and caused nausea.
Alvin witnessed the evolution of VR, PCs, and the mobile internet.
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In this episode of ACM ByteCast, Rashmi Mohan hosts Alvin Wang Graylin, Global VP of Corporate Development at HTC. Alvin is also Chairman of the Virtual World Society, Vice-Chair of the Industry of VR Alliance, and President of the Virtual Reality Venture Capital Alliance. Alvin is a leader in the virtual and augmented reality industries. As a serial entrepreneur, he founded four venture-backed startups across sectors including AI-driven conversational search, mobile social networks, ad tech, and big data AI analytics, spanning both China and the U.S. As an active investor, he funded more than 100 startups and played a pivotal role in the establishment of HTC’s ViveX Global VR accelerator and SOSV’s mobile internet investment incubator. A frequent keynote speaker at leading international conferences, Alvin is regularly featured in major media outlets, where he provides thought leadership on immersive computing (AR/VR/MR), AI, entrepreneurship, venture investing, and the Chinese market. His latest book, Our Next Reality, examines how AI and XR convergence will reshape society. He holds an M.S. in CS specializing in AI from MIT, an M.S. in Business from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington, focusing on VR, AI, and CPU architecture.
Alvin describes his early introduction to technology and computers after immigrating to the U.S. from China and later working at the first VR-focused research lab outside the military at the University of Washington. He highlights some of his pioneering contributions to the consumer PC, mobile, and internet industries in China, including helping establish Intel’s China office. Alvin explains how his background in NLP and AI helped him navigate and address the complexities of Chinese as a language for mobile search and shares some milestones from his work in China, at companies he founded and later at HTC. He touches on the early challenges and limitations of VR, progress made, and its exciting future promise. He also discusses some major advancements in XR technology, its transformative potential for education, and explains the synergy between AI and XR and the need for positive adoption at this pivotal moment in technological history.
ACM ByteCast 
