The AI/XR Podcast.

On this episode, Charlie, Ted, and Rony are joined by longtime tech entrepreneur Greg Shove, who shares lessons from a career spanning seven startups and multiple pivots—including a missed opportunity to buy Amazon in 1996. Now CEO of Section, Shove has repositioned the company from an online business school to an enterprise AI transformation consultancy. He discusses the shift from pandemic-era digital learning to workforce upskilling for companies deploying large language models. The conversation covers AI’s “cut and create” phases, the moral imperative to retrain displaced workers, and the risk of becoming an AI “passenger” rather than a “driver.” Shove warns of cognitive offloading and the commodification of knowledge work, suggesting that skilled trades may prove more resilient in the age of automation. The hosts reflect on AI’s Orwellian dynamics and the widening education gap in America. Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more! Follow us on all socials @TheAIXRPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bilawal Sidhu, former Google Maps PM and TED AI curator, shares his fascinating journey from childhood Flash animations to shaping immersive technology like Google Earth VR. He discusses the evolution of AI and the cultural impact of media satire, especially regarding political discourse. The conversation delves into the ethics of deep fakes, the potential of personalized AI podcasts, and the future of filmmaking in an AI-driven landscape. Sidhu emphasizes the balance between technology and storytelling, sparking a lively dialogue on innovation and ethics.

In this engaging discussion, director Rob Minkoff, known for The Lion King, explores how AI is transforming Hollywood's economic landscape. Filmmaker Ellenor Argyropoulos shares her profitable experiences using AI, highlighting its benefits for independent creators. Writer-director John MacInnes predicts a future with fewer traditional roles, focusing on the rise of creator-driven content. The trio delves into the challenges of IP theft, synthetic actors, and the human essence in storytelling amidst technological evolution.

In this episode of the AIXR podcast, Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, and Roni Abovitz engage in a deep conversation with Christopher Summerfield, a researcher from Google DeepMind and author of 'These Strange New Minds.' They discuss the latest developments in AI, ethical considerations, the role of AI in society, and the implications of AGI. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on education, the need for government regulation, and the balance of power in AI development. Summerfield emphasizes the importance of guardrails for AI deployment and the potential benefits of AI in various sectors, while also acknowledging the risks and challenges that come with it.Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more! Follow us on all socials @TheAIXRPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ananya Chadha, founder of Quander.co and a Stanford grad with a tech background from Neuralink and IBM, shares insights on navigating marketing in the age of content overload. She emphasizes that distribution challenges overshadow product quality for businesses today. The conversation delves into AI's evolving role in marketing, Meta's hefty investments, and the rise of low-quality AI-generated content. They explore how startups can enhance visibility while maintaining ethical values amidst the Silicon Valley hustle and discuss the intersection of neuroscience and technology.

Recorded in Prague, this special episode of the AI/XR Podcast features Charlie Fink in conversation with Somnium Space founder and CEO Artur Sychov. Charlie test-drives the $3,500 Somnium VR1 headset—so sharp it out-resolves human vision—and the two dive into the future of immersive tech. Artur lays out his no-nonsense definition of the metaverse: it’s not the metaverse if it’s not in VR, not persistent, and not decentralized. He praises Apple’s Vision Pro as the best dev kit ever made and says VisionOS could be the foundation of spatial computing for the next 50 years. Meta, on the other hand, gets a reality check for spending $100 billion while still depending on Apple and Google’s platforms. Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more! Follow us on all socials @TheAIXRPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Randy Marsden, a former Apple exec and co-founder of Skidattl, and Colton Marsden, his business partner, delve into the transformative potential of augmented reality. They discuss how Skidattl aims to simplify AR with geo-anchored virtual signage that enhances real-world interactions. The duo reflects on Apple's AI strategy, Tim Cook's leadership, and the balance between innovation and accessibility. They emphasize the importance of user-friendly tech in everyday life while also addressing the evolving landscape of AI in entertainment and creativity.

In this episode of The AI/XR Podcast, the hosts are joined by Scott Stein, contributing editor at CNET, to discuss the evolution of XR devices and the implications of spatial computing. In the news, Disney and Universal sued Midjourney, which has just released an AI image-to-video model to its subscribers. Google's Veo 3 excels at simulating AI vlogs, so the socials have been flooded with Star Troopers, Bigfoot, and Jesus meme videos. Guest Scott Stein reflects on his experience reviewing emerging tech for the past fifteen years, starting with computers and smartphones, which led to his coverage of XR. He emphasizes the challenges of evaluating early-stage products that promise future utility but may not yet deliver on their potential. The conversation explores the tension between immersive hardware aspirations and real-world practicality and the critical role of AI in resolving this tension. Throughout the episode, Stein expresses cautious optimism, acknowledging that while the path to mainstream adoption remains unclear, the intersection of AI and XR is undeniably reshaping computing’s next chapter.Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more! Follow us on all socials @TheAIXRPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Warning* Bad sound quality - apologies!In this special live edition of the AI/XR Podcast from Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2025, hosts Charlie Fink and Ted Schilowitz are joined by returning guests from Zappar, co-founders Connell Gauld (CTO) and Casper Thykier (CEO) and Auki Labs' CEO Nils Phil, to explore how AI and spatial computing are merging in real-world environments. The conversation spotlights Zapper’s Mattercraft platform and its use of “accessible QR codes” to enable spatial navigation and real-time AR experiences without downloading an app. Nils  introduces the idea of “collaborative machine perception” as a necessary condition for robots to navigate and work in the physical world—what he calls the “great reversal,” where AI exits the digital and enters the real. Later, XR Guild co-founder Avi Bar-Zeev joins to discuss ethics in XR, the need for community mentorship, and the importance of preserving the creator ecosystem in the age of AI scraping. The conversation closes with personal reflections on past projects like Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride, Google Earth, and HoloLens.Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more! Follow us on all socials @ThisWeekInXR!https://linktr.ee/thisweekinxrHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bryn Mooser, founder of Asteria Studio and a veteran of the documentary world with XTR, dives into the captivating fusion of AI and filmmaking. He shares insights on how AI can enhance creativity rather than replace it, discussing a groundbreaking hybrid live-action AI film. The conversation touches on democratizing filmmaking for small teams and exploring the philosophical implications of AI art. Mooser also highlights the potential for a new golden age of storytelling, balanced against concerns for job displacement in the evolving industry.