Dream Machines: Spatial Computing + AI

Apple Podcast LinkSpotify Podcast LinkIt’s time for some straight talk.No hype, no press release optimism, no corporate spin. Just two guys with some scar tissue—and a lot of history—talking about what’s really happening in the world of spatial computing/XR.In this episode, I sit down with Kharis O’Connell—former design leader at AR headset startup: Meta (the original Meta), Google, and Amazon. Kharis has been in the XR arena since before the game began. From early experiments with Nokia's Point & Find in 2007 to helping define zero-learning-curve design principles at (OG) Meta, he’s seen the promise, the collapse, and the recycled hype cycles firsthand.But this isn’t just a walk down memory lane.It’s a reckoning.Kharis recently left the XR industry. He’s no longer building AR glasses or pitching immersive futures to execs in Silicon Valley boardrooms. And that’s what makes this conversation special. He’s honest. Candid. Unfiltered. It’s the kind of clarity you only get once you’re no longer trying to raise funding or ship a prototype.Reasons to listen:* If you’re in the spatial computing space and having doubts* If you’ve ever wondered why AR hasn’t had its iPhone moment* If you’re building in this space and unsure whether to keep goingWe cover:* The philosophical vision behind the original Meta and why it failed* Why “zero learning curve” design is mostly a myth* What really happened at Google’s stealth AR program (and why it shut down)* The failure of imagination across today’s use cases (yes, cooking demos again)* Whether Apple Vision Pro was our “iPhone moment” (spoiler: it wasn’t)* How the obsession with technology becomes an echo chamber—and how Kharis broke out* The one big question every builder should ask themselves: Who is this for—and at what cost?This episode won’t give you all the neat answers. But it will definitely give you better questions.And if you’re like me—still carrying a flicker of belief that this tech can nourish the soul, not just the shareholder—then maybe that’s enough to keep going. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Medium Energy is now Dream Machines, narrowing the focus on the most powerful force in technology today: the convergence of spatial computing and AI.These tools are two sides of the same coin. Problem is... most people don't realize how and why. Nor do they realize what it means for their business, their careers, their children, their relationships, the list goes on.This newsletter/pod will change that.You see... Spatial computing has been misunderstood.It's far more than just AR/VR headsets and the 'metaverse'.Spatial computing is about any machine/device that can see, interact, and localize itself in the real world: this includes AR glasses, robots, drones, and self driving cars.It also includes data, of an incredibly important kind... spatial data, i.e. data with an X-Y-Z coordinate, or what I like to call... 'world data' representing people, places, and things.For decades, much of this data has lied dormant. Despite being immensely valuable, it's been woefully hard to access and to use. This ranges from 3D data (CAD, point clouds), to sensor data (IoT), to visual data of all types (photos, videos, scans)But now, the terrain is shifting, and this data has an all new raison d'être...AI is now supercharging spatial computing, and spatial is returning the favor — giving AI a body (robots), a perspective (3D computer vision), and a way to hear, navigate, and interact with the world (AR glasses).Of most importance, it will give AI real world agency, and ultimately, the feedback loop needed to unlock the holy grail: AGI (artificial general intelligence).At which point, the machines will dream, while helping humanity realize many of its dreams along the way.As such, Dream Machines isn’t just a nod to the power of spatial + AI. It’s your window into all the ways the boundary between imagination and reality is about to collapse. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Today’s episode is an inspiring ride through the future of medicine, healing, and human potential.My guest is Dr. Walter Greenleaf, a legend in the world of virtual reality and healthcare. For nearly 40 years, Walter’s been building and studying how immersive tech can treat PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, addiction, and even rewire how we think and feel.Walter's primary role today is within Stanford Universty, where a Direector within Stanford Medical Mixed Reality center, and the resident AR/VR expert within ther Virtual Human Interaction Lab. His work sits at the cutting edge of neuroscience, immersive design, and digital wellness—and he’s advised countless startups and health systems on how to bring these technologies into the real world at scale.In this conversation, we go deep on...- the rise of emotionally intelligent technology- the science of neuroplasticity, how VR can train us to be more mindful parents or more compassionate teammates- how it might soon work alongside psychedelics, AI, and even becomes a tool to explore our future selves. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

* Apple Podcast Link* Spotify Podcast LinkI recently sat down with Ashley Crowder, CEO of VNTANA, on her podcast Connected in 3D. We discussed all things at the intersection of spatial computing, digital twins, and AI, and where this convergence is heading within the enterprise space.We covered…* Why spatial computing is more than just headsets—it’s any system that sees and simulates the world* The real reason most companies are stuck in pilot purgatory* What a “spatial data plane” is and why companies need one* How AI + 3D data unlocks powerful new use cases—from training robots to designing factories* And why I believe generative UI will be the breakthrough that makes this all mainstreamIf you’re interested in using digital twins, immersive tech, or AI to make better decisions—not just more noise—this one’s worth a listen. And if you enjoy, please do give us some stars on your favorite podcast player, and please consider sharing with a friend or two! Really helps us spread the good word :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

How much of your life is spent staring at a screen?Probably more than you care to admit.Now imagine, all that distraction and friction disappearing. No more scrolling, typing, tapping. No more barriers between you and the information you need. No more heads down moments, getting lost in an array button, menus, and icons, breaking the flow of conversation and connection.Instead, AI gets unleashed from tiny text boxes. It greets you as a companion in the real world, enhances your day without distracting from it, and moves us from a world of fixed, flat UI’s to generative, spatial UI’s, adapting based upon what we’re doing, who we’re with, and where we are; perhaps even how we’re feeling…That’s the world a new startup called LIBBA is building; a world in which AR glasses and AI fuse to transform human-computer interaction, and our relationship with technology.In this episode, we’ll jump 5-10 years into the future to explore the human experience once LIBBA accomplishes this mission.How do we get there? Where are we now in the technology adoption cycle? And in classic Medium Energy fashion, we explore the philosophical questions behind this degree of merging the digital with the physical, and ask: how do we ensure that this future makes us more human—not less?To help answers these questions, I bring you Nir Daube, CEO of LIBBA. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

We’re closing out the year with a special one…As most of you know, part of the Medium Energy mission is to explore what it means to be human in the age of exponential technology.If that question interests you, this conversation absolutely delivers.We’re peeling back the layers of the human psyche and exploring the future of emotional and psychological well-being. At the heart of the conversation is the power of curiosity.We’ve all felt curiosity. But let’s be honest—how many of us truly know how to harness it as a tool to improve our lives?To help us do exactly that, we're speaking with Todd Kashdan, a renowned psychologist and one of the world’s top authorities on not just curiosity, but also on the psychology of well-being, psychological strength, mental agility, and social relationships.Todd is also one of my favorite authors, with numerous books that have reached millions of people. What sets his work apart is that he doesn’t just study human behavior; he dissects it, challenges it, and rebuilds it from the ground up. In doing so, he’s developed some rather contrarian takes, all of which I think are spot on. And I’m not the only one… his research is starting to blow up. He's been featured in major outlets like Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes, and the Hidden Brain podcast. And if that’s not impressive enough, Todd ranks in the top 1% of cited scientists worldwide, with over 225 published articles and more than 48,000 citations.So buckle up—this is a special episode with a special thinker. And spoiler alert—I’m already looking forward to doing a Part II, as we uncovered so many more ideas to unpackWith that…. enjoy this first conversation with Todd Kashdan. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Apple Podcast LinkSpotify Podcast LinkWelcome to our quarterly market update for Q3 2024, with Hatem Dhiab, Managing Partner at renowned investing firm, Gerber Kawasaki. In this series, we share our observations & leanings from the most recent quarterly earnings calls. The goal of this series is to help you stay calibrated to the latest market & investing trends.This conversation kicks off with an exploration of modern investing strategies and psychology (hint: I think traditional market theory is erroding, and the traditional strategies are breaking down)We then focus on where value might accrue next in the AI stack, and cap off with a debate around Bitcoin’s resurgence and role in the financial system. As always, this is not investing advice. DYOR! (Do Your Own Research). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Alright folks, we're taking a different tack with this episode.We’re diving into some more… soulful topics, while also getting rather personal and vulnerable.Part of our core thesis at Medium Energy is that exponential technologies like Spatial Computing and AI… these are democratizing tools. They’re going to help more people climb the proverbial ladder that is Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’, all the way to that top rung, i.e. the mystical notion of self-actualization, or the idea of becoming who we're meant to be, finding our purpose, and fulfilling potential...Now I know sometimes the pursuit of these things can get a bit woo woo. But in this episode, we keep it practical and tactical.To do so, we're talking to Tommy Sobel, an impressive entrepreneur with a business and a coaching practice focused on digital wellness, digital habits, and most recently personal & career development.Tommy’s created a great formula for uncovering what many people call their 'zone of genius’, and upon hearing about it, we went a bit off script. I couldn’t help but ask Tommy do a live coaching session with me right there on the spot, just like he does for his clients. So you're welcome, you're effectively getting a free session here of immense value yourself ;-)So perk up and get ready to take some notes. This one is full of all kinds of golden nuggets that I'm going to certainly put into practice, and that I think you will find useful as well.So without further adieu, I bring you Tommy Sobel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Today’s episode is as sci-fi as it gets.We're exploring the complete merging of man and machine via spatial computing and BCIs (brain computer interfaces); a combo that will give us the ability to control machines with our minds.And yes, this stuff is way more real and way more imminent than you think.To explore the topic, we're diving into a company at the cutting edge of this frontier.The company is called uCat (strange I know, but you’ll see why), and this conversation is with their Founder/CEO, Sam Hosovsky.Sam has an incredible vision, and believe it or not, its very human centric and altruistic. Upon listening, I think you’ll see that this future doesn’t have to be as dystopian/Black Mirror’ish as some think…To explore how and why, we start by exploring all the new innovations that need to exist, including:* New types of AI to interpret neural signals* New types of software to translate those neural signals* New forms of avatar technology to map neural signals to a virtual body, such that we can have complete agency in virtual space.We also discuss who this will be for, how they will benefit, and of course (in classic Medium Energy fashion) we get philosophical, exploring what this means for the human experience and what daily life might look like when it is real.So buckle up. This one is mind expanding in the most literal way.Without further adieu, I bring you Sam, aka ‘Saborg’, Hosovsky. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Apple Podcast LinkSpotify Podcast LinkIf you're interested in how to build a more immersive and experiential internet (aka the spatial web), than this is your episodeWe're interviewing an old friend and old colleague, Felix HerbstFelix the CEO and co-founder of Needle, which has the most impressive suite of tools I've seen to date for building web-native, spatial applications.For years now, the web has been highly sought after by the 3D and XR developers. But its been difficult to build web apps that are as compelling as their client side counterparts, which are built with powerful game engines like Unity and Unreal. These game engines have historically produced much better levels of animation, rendering, simulation, and interaction.But with Needle, that's starting to change...Felix and I know each other from the OG Meta days (the AR startup, not Facebook 2.0). When he left, I told myself, that’s a guy I need to stay in touch with. He’s going to go on and do something special.I failed to stay in touch, but lo and behold, I recently bumped into Felix at aconference. And to no surprise, he’s on to something big… attacking one of the most important problem spaces within our domain; making it easy to build compelling 3D & spatial websites. The long term vision? The Squarespace or Wix for 3D.In my opinion, until something like this exists, this notion of the metaverse will remain hypothetical.With all that said… whether you’re a business leader looking to build a more engaging website, or a 3D developer looking for better ways to build for the web, I think you're gonna really enjoy this oneSo strap in, get ready to take some notes, and enjoy this episode with Felix Herbst. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai