The AI XR Podcast.

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.

Dr. Tom Furness, known as the 'Grandfather of VR', shares insights from a remarkable career in technology and design. He discusses creating the Super Cockpit for pilots, emphasizing human-centered design over tech overload. Tom reveals how VR can enhance memory and empathy through innovative learning methods, like his 'light school' initiative. He argues that future advancements in XR depend more on soft skills than hardware. With a legacy that spans military to education, Tom's vision highlights transforming VR into a tool for unlocking human potential.

Kirin Sinha, founder and CEO of Illumix, is an MIT math prodigy who has made waves in the AR space, notably creating the successful Five Nights at Freddy's AR game. In this discussion, she highlights the importance of edge AI in enhancing spatial computing and critiques the limitations of mobile-only AR. Kirin emphasizes the necessity of integrating ambient cameras and wearables for a truly relevant experience. She also examines the challenges of scaling XR beyond theme parks and reflects on why Pokemon Go's success isn't easily replicable.

Paul Raphaël, co-founder of Felix & Paul Studios, dives into the launch of Interstellar Arc at AREA15, a revolutionary VR experience designed for 170 users. He discusses the three-year journey crafting this immersive world, blending tactile props and narrative. Paul shares insights on the challenges of headset economics and the importance of word-of-mouth for driving demand. With a strong emphasis on practical haptics and engaging storytelling, he reveals the studio's ambitious future plans, including potential expansions and ongoing iterations in immersive technology.

Amit Jain, Founder and CEO of Luma AI, discusses the groundbreaking future of AI-native video generation. With a background as an Apple Vision engineer, Jain reveals how Luma Ray 3 is transforming Hollywood by making video the predominant interface for information and entertainment. He argues that personalized video creation will become commonplace, allowing creators to demand quality and speed. Jain also highlights how AI can reduce costs in filmmaking, enabling bold storytelling and a more diverse range of productions.

Antony "SkarredGhost" Vitillo, a renowned XR blogger and industry critic, sheds light on the complexities of spatial computing. He shares his journey from a failed startup to becoming a key voice in immersive tech. The conversation dives into Apple’s shift towards AI smart glasses, the struggle between device prototypes and real products, and the cyclical nature of XR hype. With thoughts on user acceptance and the evolving landscape post-pandemic, Vitillo offers an insightful look at the challenges and future of XR technology.

Paul Travers, founder and CEO of Vuzix Corporation, brings over 30 years of expertise in wearable displays and XR innovation. He reveals Vuzix's journey from the VFX1, the first consumer VR headset, to a focus on enterprise solutions. Discussing Meta's recent shortcomings, Travers advocates for Vuzix as a potential consolidation hub for smaller XR startups. He explores the 'Lindy Effect' that favors Vuzix's longevity and touches on co-botics and AI's pivotal role in manufacturing, offering a bright outlook for the future of XR.

Tricia Biggio, CEO of Invisible Universe, joins hosts Charlie Fink and Ted Schilowitz for an illuminating deep-dive into how AI is revolutionizing content creation for social media. A veteran television producer who transitioned from traditional media to Snap, then launched her own company, Biggio reveals how her team built the world's first AI-powered content creation platform that reduces production costs by 95% per minute. From creating viral characters like Serena Williams' daughter's doll "Qai Qai" to launching Invisible Studio—a comprehensive AI toolset now used by eighth-graders to compete with major studios—Biggio demonstrates how authentic storytelling paired with rapid iteration is reshaping entertainment. Her company's brands have achieved billions of views across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Roblox, proving that social platforms can serve as testing grounds for intellectual property development rather than just marketing channels.Guest HighlightsHow "minimum viable content" philosophy allows rapid testing and iteration with audiences rather than traditional seven-year development cyclesWhy authenticity beats polish—her grittiest Snap show (Bhad Bhabie) generated hundreds of millions of views while polished influencer content floppedThe "Trojan horse" strategy of using social media as IP incubation rather than just distribution, turning audience feedback into real-time creative directionBuilding Invisible Studio—an all-in-one AI platform for script writing, voice generation, image creation, and video production that enterprise partners and individual creators can accessHow community-driven iteration replaces traditional media's "perfect then release" model, allowing brands to evolve in public and capture viral momentsTricia emphasizes that successful AI content creation requires storytellers building tools for storytellers, not just technologists creating features. Her platform approach addresses both content creation and distribution challenges, recognizing that in a world of infinite content, strong narrative voice becomes more critical than ever. The conversation explores whether rapid AI-enabled production maintains creative integrity or if audiences actually prefer speed and authenticity over traditional craftsmanship.News Segment HighlightsMeta's display-enabled AI glasses launch with mixed reviews—monocular display creates adjustment issues, neural wristband shows gesture control promise despite device failing twice in live demosTikTok sale finalized to consortium including Larry Ellison, algorithm changes suspected to appease conservative concerns, potential government stake like Intel dealSnap CEO "betting the house" on Spectacles AR glasses strategy—risky move requiring major behavior change may keep devices in "exotic Ferrari" market vs mainstream "Toyota" adoptionNothing raises $200M for UK-based minimalist Android phone expansionNintendo releases Virtual Boy accessory in cardboard and premium plastic versionsSubscribe for weekly insider perspectives from industry veterans who aren't afraid to challenge Big Tech. New episodes every Tuesday. Watch the full videos on YouTube.Thank you to our sponsors, Zappar and Viture!Don't forget to like, share, and follow for more! @TheAIXRPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thisweekinx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie is back from the Venice Film Festival Immersive, where he also judged the Reply AI Film Festival. His standout was Blur, which he shared with Ted and Rony, though the Grand Prize went to The Clouds Are 2000 Meters Up. He also praised Doug Liman’s Asteroid on Samsung’s Moohan headset and noted growing work on Apple Vision Pro.In the news: Anthropic raised $13B at a $183B valuation, Replit secured $250M, Viture raised $100M, Mojo Vision closed $75M, and Higgsfield raised $50M. Rony highlighted Rivet’s Army award and Brainlab’s ML2 FDA clearance. Apple AirPods added live translation.Don Carson joined to discuss Walkabout Mini Golf and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland course, set for December. Carson, a former Disney Imagineer and now senior art director at Mighty Coconut, explained how each hole is designed as a vignette to guide players through the story. Amazon is preparing new smart glasses, and TwinMind is testing lifelogging concepts.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.

Jason Zada and Monica Monique, co-founders of Secret Level, dive into the evolving landscape of storytelling and technology. They discuss how AI is transforming content creation, allowing smaller teams to achieve big results. Jason shares insights from a TED Talk on storytelling, while the duo navigates the balance of narrative and technology. They also touch on the implications of AI in advertising, exploring the emotional depth needed in synthetic characters. The conversation highlights the importance of human taste as technology reshapes storytelling.