The AI/XR Podcast August 22nd, 2025 ft. Ft. Devon Eriksen, Author of Theft of Fire: Orbital Space #1
This week on The AI/XR Podcast, Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, and Rony Abovitz start with the latest news but quickly veer into bigger questions about where technology, storytelling, and human behavior collide. What begins as a conversation about tools and platforms spirals—in a good way—into riffs on consciousness, creativity, and what it means to live in a mediated world. It’s part debate, part improv, and occasionally a comedy of interruptions. Devon Erikson, author of the best-selling sci-fi novel "Theft of Fire" joins the discussion, adding a novelist’s perspective. The third week in August isn't a big news week, but it made room for a group of futurists who don't all agree on the present or the future of our tech-driven society. hank 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.
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The AI/XR Podcast August 15th, 2025 ft. Ft. Jess Loren, CEO at Global Objects
Jess Loren, CEO of Global Objects, joins Charlie, Ted, and Rony to talk about the company’s work creating photoreal digital twins for film, television, games, and beyond. She explains how her team scans everything from bugs to stadiums using LiDAR, photogrammetry, drones, and Gaussian splats, and why she’s building a “clean data” archive of the physical world. The conversation ranges from Hollywood’s shifting economics to the role of tech giants, the future of synthetic media, and how 3D assets could train robots and preserve cultural history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The AI/XR Podcast August 8th, 2025 ft. Brent Bushnell, Co-Founder and CBO of DreamPark Immersive
On this episode of the AI/XR Podcast, Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, and Rony Abovitz welcome Brent Bushnell, co-founder of DreamPark, for an energizing conversation about the future of mixed reality entertainment. Brent shares how DreamPark turns public spaces into interactive theme parks using Meta Quest 3 headsets, enabling immersive gameplay on city streets, at malls, and even music festivals. The hosts reflect on the legacy of Magic Leap, the overlooked brilliance of the Magic Leap game Dr. Grordbort's Invaders, made exclusively for Magic Leap by New Zealand's WETA studio. Rony compares Brent’s vision to Walt Disney, and the brainstorm an entire Dream Park business plan, discussing everything from retrofitting dead malls to launching pop-ups at Buc-ee’s and Walmart. Along the way, they discuss the shortcomings of Apple Vision Pro, Magic Leap’s lost potential, and the promise of scalable location-based XR. Equal parts XR therapy session and founder love-fest, this episode captures what happens when tech dreamers like Brent Bushnell find a working prototype.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.
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The AI/XR Podcast August 1st, 2025 ft. Greg Shove, CEO of Section
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.
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The AI/XR Podcast July 25th, 2025 ft. Bilawal Sidhu, former Google Maps PM, TED AI curator, and generative AI media pioneer
In Episode 250 of the AI/XR Podcast, Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, and Rony Abovitz are joined by Bilawal Sidhu, former Google Maps PM, TED AI curator, and generative AI media pioneer. The hosts discuss Trump’s executive orders on AI and censorship, South Park's viral Trump satire, and the emerging ethics of deep fakes. Sidhu shares his journey from Flash animations at age 7 to working on immersive Google Earth VR and launching Google Maps' Immersive View. He reflects on the future of agentic AI, spatial computing, and whether 3D interfaces will ever go mainstream. The conversation veers into synthetic media’s gray goo problem, TikTok addiction, and the possibility of personalized AI podcasts. With a mix of philosophy, tech nerdery, and cultural commentary, this episode marks a milestone with one of the most articulate voices in cinematic AI.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.
The AI/XR Podcast, co-hosted by producer Charlie Fink, who covers AI and XR for Forbes, Ted Schilowitz, media futurist and co-founder of Red Camera, and Rony Abovitz, founder Magic Leap, and the AI startup, Synthbee. 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.