The AI/XR Podcast.

Charlie, Rony and Ted welcome Yonatan Tal, CEO of Supersocial. First up is the flurry of announcements from Meta Connect, including the unveiling of their see-through AR headset, dubbed Orion, and more broad updates about AI. Rony shares intimate details of his conversation with Mark Zuckerberg at the prestigious Allen & Company invitation-only in Sun Valley. Yonatan Tal shares details of his Metaverse construction studio, Supersocial, and how they make Roblox experiences. The company is a combination of an agency and a Roblox game developer, making it a sought-after partner for big brands seeking to reach that prized youth audience. 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.

Join John Attanassio and Luisa Huang, co-founders of Toonstar, an AI-assisted animation company transforming digital storytelling. They share their inspiring journey from traditional animation backgrounds to creating viral hits like 'Stephen and Parker' on YouTube. The duo discusses how AI is reshaping animation and the creator economy, enabling new voices in a previously exclusive industry. Expect insights into their innovative tools that lower barriers for creators and the impact of platforms like TikTok on modern narratives.

This week all three hosts are back in force with a great guest, Zhen Feng, Head of International for Roblox. Rony and Ted talk about a new hush-hush optics technology for XR which they believe is coming to headsets soon. It's a slow news week, but we did talk about iOs 18, Apple Intelligence (or lack thereof), and Google Shopping's virtual try-on. Zhen Fengs shares her unique journey from Microsoft to early Facebook, where she spent 13 years, and now her role at Roblox, which made us all want to go work there. 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.

Liam Broza, CTO of Infinite Reality, transforms browsers into metaverse streaming platforms. He dives into recent AI funding trends, discussing the exciting innovations reshaping the industry. The conversation turns to creating immersive virtual experiences, including concerts that connect emotionally with audiences. Liam shares his journey in tech, emphasizing the open web metaverse's potential and the significance of collaboration among developers. Additionally, he highlights challenges in gaming and the importance of resilience in this evolving landscape.

This week we're joined by Ryan Chapman, CEO of Motive, focused on business applications of VR. We start with the state of the entertainment business, where Charlie throws around wildly inaccurate numbers to make the point that the music has stopped for the television networks and cable channels like MTV, which are about to be chopped up and sold for parts as they continue to hemorrhage viewers to Roblox, Fortnite, and TikTok. New AR glasses are coming from Meta and Snap next month. Oh, and there's not going to be a GTA VR game [cue: loud applause]. Ryan Chapman, CEO of Motive, breaks down their unique approach to developing VR applications for training workers. 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.

Akash Nigam, CEO of Genies, dives into the world of digital avatars and NFTs, highlighting how they represent the future of communication and self-expression in the Metaverse. He discusses the societal shift towards avatars, particularly among younger generations, and their potential to create genuine virtual connections. The conversation also touches on the role of artificial intelligence in shaping identities and the necessity for accountability in digital creation, while humorously navigating the generational gap in understanding these tech advancements.

Val Vacante, VP of Solutions Innovation at Dentsu Advertising and advisor for SXSW, shares insights on the future of retail and e-commerce. She discusses how traditional retailers can reinvent themselves in an era dominated by giants like Amazon. The conversation also delves into innovative tech collaborations that blend experiences, such as AI-driven multimedia in whiskey marketing. Val highlights the importance of community and creativity, showcasing how gaming environments can transform advertising and education, particularly in engaging younger audiences.

Kerestell Smith, the creative genius behind Gorilla Tag VR and founder of Another Axiom, shares his inspiring journey from VR enthusiast to game developer. He reveals the groundbreaking arm locomotion mechanics that propelled Gorilla Tag to popularity, earning over $100M. The discussion dives into spatial design principles and the importance of immersive experiences in VR. Kerestell also reflects on the challenges of game development and the emotional impact of virtual interactions, emphasizing the transformative power of technology in building connections.

This week our guest is neuroscientist Dr. Cody Rall. Rony's working his super-secret day job (an AI startup). Top of the news is OpenAI's Search GPT, which is now a close beta (you can sign up); AI start-up Cohere valued at $5.5 B in their latest round. There are more than 20 AI unicorns - startups valued at more than $1B. Elon Musk has a supercomputer cluster in Memphis, and no idea (yet) where the power is coming from. Meta is in the news (constantly). This week their biggie is the release of powerful open source Llama 3.1 AI LLM. Both Reality Labs and Magic Leap saw layoffs. Dr. Rall joins us to talk about psychiatric treatments with BCI, and other methods for healing, and even augment, the brain. 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.

Sarah Nagy, founder and CEO of Seek AI, discusses funding for 3D company Jigspace and AI NPCs. They explore the future impact of AI in gaming and software development, XR Vision Pro, and video editing technology. The podcast also touches on the undervaluation of quants and the role of LLMs in automation for companies.