Voices of VR

On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Ian Hamilton announced on Bluesky that "I've been fired from UploadVR." He was the editor in chief at UploadVR, and he wrote a Substack post titled "Ian is Typing" on January 30th detailing how is co-workers were pushing to do a test of a "clearly disclosed AI author for UploadVR," and that he had three specific concerns that it be brief, for the ability for readers to turn off and hide all AI-authored posts, and for human freelancers to have the right of first refusal. Hamilton claims to have tried to raise these concerns in the context of Slack, but that the experiment was going to proceed regardless. He writes, "Unable to shift the direction of my colleagues and out of options to affect what was coming, I stepped out of Slack and sent a final email to them on Wednesday morning with a number of my contacts in the industry copied, raising some of these concerns. Not long after, I was called by my boss and fired." I spoke with Hamilton last Friday after his Substack post in order to get more context that led to his departure. Hamilton claims that UploadVR Editor & Developer David Heaney and UploadVR's Operations Manager Kyle Riesenbeck were behind the push to test this clearly disclosed AI author on UploadVR, and that ultimately the proposed test was a business decision made by Riesenbeck. It was a decision that Hamilton ultimately disagreed with, and he cites it as the primary factor that led to behavior that ultimately led to his firing. (UPDATE Feb 5, 2026: It is worth noting here that UploadVR has yet to run this AI bot author test, but that it was the proposed test that was the catalyst for Hamilton’s behavior). The specific reasons and circumstances around Hamilton's firing are publicly disputed by Heaney, who reacted on Twitter after Hamilton's Substack post went live by saying, "It is indeed only one side of the story. And an incomplete telling of it, with key omissions and wording choices that serve to paint a misleading picture." In another post Heaney says, "I can't get into it more at this point for obvious reasons, but don't believe everything you read, especially a single side of a complex story." I asked Hamilton for his reaction to Heaney's claims that he's being misleading during our interview, and he did provide more context in our conversation that lead up to his firing. Ultimately, it does sounds like the proposed AI bot author test was the primary catalyst for Hamilton, and that this disagreement may have led to other behaviors and reactions that could also be reasonably cited for why he was fired. UploadVR may have a differing opinions as to what happened, but no one from UploadVR has made public comments beyond what Heaney has said on Twitter. I have extended invitations to both Riesenbeck or Heaney to come onto the podcast for a broader discussion about AI, but nothing has been confirmed by the time of publication. My Personal Take on AI: Technically, Philosophically, Legally, and Culturally Public discourse around AI has split into a binary of Pro-AI vs Anti-AI, and while my personal views can not be easily collapsed into one side of the other, I'd usually take the Anti-AI side of a debate if given the opportunity. I do think some form of AI is here to stay, and will be around for a long time, but that right now there is a lot of hype and deluded thinking on the topic. I see AI as a technology that consolidates wealth and power, and so a primary question worth asking is “Whose power and wealth is being consolidated?” Karen Hao's The Empire of AI elaborates on how the past patterns of colonialism are replaying out within the context of data and the field of AI, as well as how scaling with more compute power has been the primary mode of innovation in AI, and that Gary Marcus has been pushing against the "Scale is All You Need" theory for many years now. Technically speaking, I'm more of a skeptic in the short-term around LLMs along the lines of Stocha...

In this engaging discussion, Andrew M. Davis, a process philosopher and author, dives into the world of Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy. He emphasizes how human experience shapes reality, exploring concepts like prehension and the integration of mind and matter. Davis also highlights the importance of creativity in understanding our universe and the value-laden nature of existence. Plus, he connects Whitehead’s ideas to art and education, envisioning a re-enchanted cosmos through process and participatory co-creation.

Karim Ben-Khalifa, a former war correspondent turned immersive artist, discusses his journey from frontline reporting to creating impactful art. He shares insights about his installation 'In 36,000 Ways,' highlighting how shrapnel can evoke emotions about modern warfare. Karim delves into the power of sensory design in combatting public numbness to conflict. He emphasizes the need for innovation in storytelling and the use of technology to create collective, meaningful experiences that resonate with audiences.

Khalil Ashawi is a visual journalist and founder of Frontline in Focus XR; Hael Khalaf coordinates projects including Under the Same Sky; and Sami Sultan is a photojournalist from Gaza. They delve into the powerful use of immersive journalism to document the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Sami shares the challenges of frontline reporting and how 360° footage counters misinformation. The team discusses the emotional impact on audiences and their hopes for justice and freedom for Gazans, highlighting VR's potential to transform journalism.

Alexander De Vriend, the artistic director of Ontroerend Goed, discusses the innovative immersive theater piece, Handle With Care. He explains how they design interactive experiences for reluctant audiences, emphasizing subtle cues that encourage participation without pressure. De Vriend shares insights on the unique distribution model of the show in boxes, audience trust, and the importance of balancing private moments with communal interactions. He reflects on the ethos of caring for unknown people, highlighting how the work creates profound connections and conversations.

Iris van der Meulen, a digital artist known for her vibrant work in VR storytelling, dives into her interactive project, Lesbian Simulator. She discusses the origins of the game, drawing from personal experiences to explore queer identity. Listeners will be fascinated by her approach to balancing humor and trauma, worldbuilding through VR sketching, and the innovative game mechanics that simulate both joy and tension. Iris also shares audience reactions and reflects on the desire for more interactivity in VR, highlighting its potential for social change.

Omid Zarei, an immersive producer and director, and Anne Jeppesen, a sound designer focused on audio-driven XR, delve into their collaborative project, Reality Looks Back. They explore the emotional core of their work, sharing a poignant hamster moment that reshaped their narrative. The duo translates lofty quantum concepts into immersive visuals and sound, discussing how personal experiences influence storytelling. Their insights on reality perception and the potential of immersive media spark intriguing conversations about disclosure and societal paradigm shifts.

Dr. Maisha Wester, a scholar in gothic literature and horror, discusses her groundbreaking project, Coded Black, which combines open-world exploration with Black history through horror tropes. She delves into the origins of Gothic literature and its ties to race, showcasing a lineage from slave narratives to contemporary figures like Jordan Peele. Maisha highlights innovative game mechanics used to evoke empathy, addresses the importance of historical accuracy, and shares her vision for this interactive experience as a tool for social justice and education.

Celine Daemen, a transdisciplinary artist specializing in immersive media and theater, discusses her groundbreaking public art installation, Nothing to See Here. She explores the concept of perception art, challenging our notions of reality amidst the AI debate. Celine shares insights from her Lincoln Center residency and her innovative use of volumetric capture techniques. The conversation delves into audience engagement, technical marvels like binaural sound design, and the time-bending experiences that are part of her work. She highlights the potential of immersive storytelling to reshape our collective experience.

Join Sarah Wolozin, Scarlett Kim, and Julia Scott-Stevenson as they dive into the exciting world of XR distribution. Wolozin, a pioneer in documentary storytelling, highlights the urgency of addressing access issues in the XR landscape. Kim shares insights on nurturing independent artists while building networks with cultural institutions. Scott-Stevenson explains innovative toolkits to help artists navigate distribution challenges. Together, they envision a more accessible and vibrant future for immersive media, all while avoiding the pitfalls of big-tech dependency.