The AI XR Podcast
Charlie Fink Productions
Get the inside story on the biggest tech developments from founders, former executives, and industry veterans who built companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Meta Reality Labs, Apple Vision Pro, Microsoft HoloLens, and Unity.Join Charlie Fink (Forbes), Ted Schilowitz, (Red Camera, Fox, Paramount Futurist) & Rony Abovitz, (founder Magic Leap).as they interview startup CEOs, ex-Google/Meta/Apple insiders, Hollywood directors, and AI researchers reshaping spatial computing.Every week we break down the latest tech news with our signature hot takes, then dive deep with a founder or industry leader. We cover artificial intelligence breakthroughs, virtual reality hardware, augmented reality applications, synthetic media tools, and how enterprises are adopting these technologies.We're industry insiders who have the connections to get the biggest names on the show, but we're not afraid to ask the tough questions about where big tech is heading. Our guests trust us because we've been in their shoes.Listen now to get ahead of the next wave of computing.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 3min
This Veteran Game Dev (LucasFilm Games) & XR Creator Built AI Filmmaking Platform for Creatives - Mike Levine
In this engaging conversation, Mike Levine, a veteran game developer and former Lucasfilm Games artist, shares his journey from interactive storytelling to founding FilmSpark, an AI-native filmmaking platform. He criticizes current AI tools for complicating the creative process, transforming directors into prompt engineers. Levine discusses the challenges and limitations he's faced in AR and highlights how FilmSpark aims to streamline production for filmmakers. His insights on blending creativity with technology are both thought-provoking and inspiring!
Jan 13, 2026 • 56min
Chinese Robots, AI Smart Glasses & Gwen Stefani Battle for CES Headlines - GamesBeat's Dean Takahashi
Dean Takahashi, a seasoned tech journalist with 25 years at the forefront of gaming and consumer electronics, shares insights from CES 2026. He highlights China's significant rise in consumer electronics, overshadowing American brands like Sony and Samsung. Discussing the explosion of robotics, he notes innovations from laundry-folders to latte-makers, yet questions about pricing remain unanswered. The conversation also covers the burgeoning smart glasses market and NVIDIA's major presence, underscoring the evolving landscape of tech and its implications for the future.
Jan 3, 2026 • 59min
Special From CES 2026: AI Strategy, Tariffs, and the Future of Consumer Tech - Gary Shapiro, CEO
Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, dives into the transformative landscape of CES 2026. He reveals groundbreaking additions like the AI-powered show app and new tracks focused on wearables and health. Shapiro warns about over 1,200 state AI bills hampering startups, advocating for uniform federal standards. He discusses China's evolving manufacturing scene and the reshoring trend to places like Vietnam. With robotics taking center stage, Gary predicts a future where AI drastically reshapes job skills and productivity.
Dec 30, 2025 • 1h 3min
The Year AI Became Militarized: Shelly Palmer on Government, Defense, and $3 Trillion Stacked
Shelly Palmer, a seasoned technology consultant and media strategist, shares his insights on the significant yet underutilized AI landscape of 2025. He highlights the staggering $3 trillion government push toward militarizing AI, likening it to a modern-day Manhattan Project against China. Palmer emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and leadership in successful companies, contrasting them with those mired in chaos. He also touches on the future of AI, discussing innovation at CES 2026 and the potential of technologies like quantum computing.
Dec 23, 2025 • 56min
Digital Wellbeing Is The Path To Reclaim Agency In An AI Post-Capitalist World - Caitlin Krause
Caitlin Krause, an author and educator at Stanford and the University of Oregon, dives into the importance of digital wellbeing in a post-capitalist world. She argues that intentional design in XR can foster genuine connections, challenging the notion of a digital detox. With a focus on dignity-first design, Caitlin explores how loneliness can prompt meaningful human contact. The conversation branches into the implications of AI on human purpose and the need for relationship-centered values, urging a shift toward more supportive digital environments.
Dec 16, 2025 • 1h 7min
Can We Trust AI? Intention, Ethics & Future of Intelligence – Live From SynthBee
Danny Mahos, a remarkable 12-year-old prodigy, shares his unique perspective on AI consciousness, exploring intriguing ideas like the 'trapped man' test for discerning awareness in machines. He dives into exciting concepts of stepwise AI training and the importance of understanding geometric representations in neural networks. This live conversation also touches on the ethical dimensions of AI, such as privacy concerns and the quest for collaborative intelligence, highlighting the delicate balance between enhancing humanity and maintaining control over advanced technologies.
Dec 9, 2025 • 52min
Why Physical Reality Is the Only Thing That Still Matters—Vince Kadlubek, Meow Wolf
Vince Kadlubek, co-founder of Meow Wolf, shares insights from his journey transforming a Santa Fe art collective into a global immersive entertainment phenomenon. He discusses how physical reality remains unique amidst digital saturation, emphasizing the importance of novelty. Vince elaborates on Meow Wolf's evolution towards interactive storytelling, where environments and characters react to visitors, and predicts the rise of XR RPGs that blend themes of gaming and physical experiences. His vision for cross-reality adventures could redefine how we engage with storytelling.
Dec 2, 2025 • 55min
Why Gamers Are Adopting Smart Glasses First & The Android XR Future - David Jiang, Viture
David Jiang, CEO of VITURE, delves into why display glasses are captivating gamers, not just businesses. He explores the surprising stickiness of users, averaging nearly three hours daily, often for private console gaming. Jiang believes high-fidelity display glasses and smart glasses will remain distinct for a decade due to weight limitations. He also shares VITURE's innovative real-time 2D-to-3D AI conversion, ensuring a dynamic viewing experience, while positioning Android XR as the future's open ecosystem.
Nov 25, 2025 • 53min
VR Art, Immersive Storytelling, and Festival Culture Matter More Than Hype—Kent Bye, Voices of VR
Kent Bye, an influential independent immersive media journalist known for his deep dives into XR culture, joins the discussion to share his insights on the evolving landscape of immersive storytelling. He highlights the importance of grassroots creators and festival circuits, emphasizing their role in sustaining VR beyond the hype. The conversation covers the ethical implications of AI in art and critiques its 'colonizing force.' Kent's hands-on journalism approach sets a stark contrast to corporate narratives, advocating for a more human-centered perspective in XR.
Nov 18, 2025 • 53min
Creator Economies, Blockchain, AI & the Open Metaverse – Neal Stephenson & Rebecca Barkin, Lamina1
Rebecca Barkin, co-founder of Lamina1 and creator-economy innovator, dives into the decentralized multimedia platform Spaces, enabling creators to control their IP and royalties. Alongside her, Neal Stephenson, famed sci-fi writer and co-creator of Artifact, discusses a dystopian world with competing AIs, co-created with Weta Workshop. They explore how blockchain can empower creators against Big Tech, emphasizing collaborative lore creation in a living IP experiment. This conversation highlights the future of creator economies and the resurrection of the open metaverse.
