
The AI/XR Podcast.
"AI is what XR has been waiting for," says podcast co-host Rony Abovitz, founder of Mako Robotics, Magic Leap, and the AI startup, Synthbee. "AI is what everything has been waiting for," adds co-host Charlie Fink, who writes a weekly column on AI and XR for Forbes. The other co-host is entertainment technology exec, Ted Schilowitz, co-founder of Red Camera. The podcast starts with a hot take on the week's top tech news, followed by industry guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Apr 19, 2025 • 1h 1min
The AI/XR Podcast April 18th, 2025 ft. Adam Draper, Boost VC
In the latest episode of "The AI/XR Podcast," hosts Charlie, Rony, and Ted welcome Adam Draper of Boost VC. First we dive into pressing industry news, including Google’s monopoly verdict and OpenAI’s user base. Adam shared his investment philosophy focused on making small pre-seed bets to minimize risk while highlighting innovative ventures like Prospera, a special economic zone in Honduras fostering biotech advancements. The conversation continued with Adam discussing ethical considerations in tech investments, emphasizing trust and accountability among founders. He concluded with insights on the future of robotics, predicting an upcoming boom fueled by accessibility and affordability of technology for young innovators.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/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 13, 2025 • 49min
The AI/XR Podcast April 11th, 2025 ft. John Gaeta, CEO Escape.ai
John Gaeta, CEO of Escape.ai and known for his work on The Matrix, dives into the future of storytelling through Neo Cinema and innovative platforms for creators. He emphasizes the power of community engagement in content curation and the importance of supporting diverse narratives that mainstream media often neglects. Gaeta discusses how Escape.ai leverages generative AI and game engines to lower entry barriers for creators. With an upcoming fundraising round, he reveals exciting strategies for monetization and immersive viewing experiences.

Apr 8, 2025 • 57min
The AI/XR Podcast April 4th, 2025 ft Patty Rangel, Producer, Impact Investor, and Futurist
In this episode Charlie and Ted celebrate reaching over a million downloads before diving into news which includes OpenAI’s $40B raise and $300B valuation, Runway’s "paltry" $380M in funding, the fate of TikTok, and the rapid evolution of cinematic AI. Our guest is futurist, producer, and investor Patty Rangel, who recounts her journey from theater to tech, her pioneering work with holography and VR, and her involvement with Singularity University, OpenAI, and the 2045 Initiative. Rangel shares insights on training AI agents, ethical AI development, and the vision of digital immortality through avatars, all while blending theater, space travel, and futurism. 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/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 29, 2025 • 51min
The AI/XR Podcast March 28th, 2025 ft. Nils Phil, CEO of Auki Labs, and Caspar Thykier, CEO of Zappar
This week on the AI/XR Podcast, Charlie, Rony, and Ted welcome Nils Pihl, CEO of Auki Labs, and Caspar Thykier, CEO of Zappar, to discuss a massive retail rollout in of indoor virtual positioning systems in Sweden. In the news, OpenAI’s $12B revenue and projected $125B by 2029 set off fireworks. Rony floats Sam Altman as Tim Cook’s successor. Charlie suggests Apple needs a bold move—like acquiring OpenAI—to recover from Vision Pro’s underperformance and Siri’s years of neglect. Auki Labs' decentralized protocol, PoseMesh, uses scannable QR codes and self-hosted data to guide robots and humans through physical spaces. It's a killer demo: a blind person navigating to a bathroom via an app clip, no headset required. 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/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 snips
Mar 23, 2025 • 50min
The AI/XR Podcast March 21st, 2025 ft. Bob Cooney, Author, Futurist, Preeminent Expert in Location-Based Entertainmen
Bob Cooney, a leading expert on location-based entertainment and host of the VR Arcade and Attractions Summit, discusses the thrilling rise of portable MR theme parks. He shares insights on how AI technologies are reshaping content creation and the challenges of copyright in the industry. The conversation dives into unique storytelling methods, including a collaborative project inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland.' Cooney also reflects on the evolution of VR experiences and the dynamic landscape of entertainment, showcasing both successes and struggles in the sector.

Mar 15, 2025 • 47min
The AI/XR Podcast March 14th, 2025 ft. David Nussbaum, founder and Chairman, Proto
David Nussbaum, founder and Chairman of Proto, shares insights on revolutionary holographic technology. He delves into its applications in healthcare and corporate training, emphasizing a future home device under $1000. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of celebrity interactions through holograms, fostering deeper fan connections. Recapping SXSW, Nussbaum and the hosts reflect on its cultural impact and highlight innovative experiences that show the merger of art and technology. Expect exciting developments in immersive communication!

Mar 10, 2025 • 46min
The AI/XR Podcast March 7th, 2025 ft. SXSW Programmers Blake Kammerdiner (XR) and Katie Perera (AI)
On the opening day of SXSW 2025, the hosts are joined by SXSW Programmers Blake Kammerdiner (XR) and Katie Perera (AI) to get a preview of the conference and exhibition, an annual part of our podcast, which turns 5 in July. In the news, Google's new AI search puts the search giant in competition - with itself; MWC wrap up featured the upcoming Samsung MR headset, which Rony says is so 2020. Lots XR and AI financings this week. Normal ones (under $100M). 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/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 1, 2025 • 50min
The AI/XR Podcast February 28th, 2025 ft. Cecilia Shen, CEO of Cybever
This week we welcome Cecilia Shen, CEO of Cybever, an AI-powered 3D creation platform that leverages advanced layout algorithms to enable industries to build professional-grade, production-ready environments for industrial simulations. The Metaverse was in the news this week, with the launch of HTC's Viverse (now we know what they're doing with the $250M they got from Google for their hardware business), Meta created a $50 M investment fund to encourage and reward content creators in Horizon Worlds. Niantic is making a digital twin of the physical world. Cecilia Shen began her work in robotics when she was 15. She later joined Google X, the tech giant's incubator, where she began working increasingly with computer vision and generative AI. Cybever generates extensive libraries of 3D environments that are both diverse and customizable to specific training requirements.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/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 2025 • 49min
The AI/XR Podcast February 21st, 2025 ft. Naeem Talukdar, CEO Moonvalley AI
Join Naeem Talukdar, CEO of Moonvalley AI and a veteran of DeepMind and OpenAI, as he dives into the creation of a revolutionary 'clean' generative video model. He discusses the impact of licensed content on AI in filmmaking and how it can transform high-definition CGI pipelines. The conversation also touches on Niantic selling its Pokémon Go business and the complexities of intellectual property in XR. Plus, Talukdar sheds light on the importance of balancing data quality with innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of generative video technology.

Feb 16, 2025 • 53min
The AI/XR Podcast February 14th, 2025 ft. Ann Hand, CEO Super League
Our guest this week is Ann Hand, CEO of Super League, a brand agency specializing in game platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. The news this week starts with an ironic twist: first people who are losing jobs to AI are people who work in tech. Also, tech's super bowl commercials barely made a sound. Super League started as a platform for eSports marketing but Ann Hand has guided it to become one of the leading brand marketers in spatial computing, otherwise referred to as The Metaverse. Users are spending more and more of their time on these platforms. The company recently announced it was being acquired by Infinite Reality, which has raised over $3 Billion, 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/thisweekinxr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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