Zuck Attends Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Largo. Marketing savvy Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed President-elect Trump Meta’s hit Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in front of a gaggle of press photographers. That was hardly the main reason to attend, just an immediate benefit. Zuckerberg praised Trump as a “badass” after the July 13th assassination attempt, and stopped filtering disinformation on Meta’s social platforms, claiming the Biden administration was trying to censor him. In 2020, Zuck donated $400 million for nationwide voting technology and other upgrades, a move criticized by the right as benefitting Biden, so he has some ground to make up. No one is afraid of democrats anymore. No one can afford to be on the wrong side of the new administration. Tech titans now must navigate not just Trump, but his tech advisor Elon.
What if Elon Tells POTUS Not To Invite You? Despite the lawsuit between them, Sam Altman says he isn’t worried about Musk’s new role as Trump’s tech advisor, first buddy, and head of the soon-to-be new DOGE (department of government efficiency). At the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed concerns Musk might use his political influence to undermine competitors. “It would be profoundly un-American to use political power, to the degree that Elon has it, to hurt your competitors.” Said Altman. “I don’t think Elon would do it.” Altman went on to praise Musk’s accomplishments, saying “I grew up with Elon as like a mega hero.” Sam Altman is not worried. Does he sound like he’s worried? I don’t think he’s worried.
Meta Turns To James Cameron For a Hit. Meta’s got all the money in the world and the most popular MR device. Their $300 Meta 3 headsets, and Ray Ban audio smart glasses are poised to be the hottest gift items of the Christmas season. But what Meta most wants for Christmas is a bona-fide “Game of Thrones” scale hit that would attract masses. The price is too low to be much of a barrier, but the use case is not immediately apparent. This is what James Cameron is there for. To build worlds and stories people have to have. To build a bridge between VR and entertainment so alluring that people have to cross it no matter how much friction they have to endure to get there. Can Cameron do for XR what he did for movies? It has turned out to be much harder than anyone thought it might be.
New XREAL One AR Glasses Arrive With Proprietary Chip. Spatial screen anchoring shouldn’t sound like a breakthrough, but it is. When you turn your head, the screen stays where you anchored it. The new X1 chip make this possible
Convergence.ai wants to make me the perfect agent by studying everything I say and do. By living, I would be training my model, my agent. If it could see what I do, what I read, hear and say, it could transform me into data. It could be a mirror of me. This would represent a huge evolutionary step, affecting productivity, consciousness and mortality. We could be in two places at once. It could also be a horror movie in which we are driven to death by our own hand. I signed up to learn more. What could go wrong?
World Labs unveils an AI system that can generate 3D scenes from a single image. Unlike existing AI models that create static 3D models, World Labs’ technology allows users to explore and modify these scenes interactively. Users can navigate through the generated environments using a keyboard and mouse, adjusting elements like the simulated depth of field to enhance immersion. World Labs has secured $230 million in venture capital from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Intel Capital, and AMD Ventures earlier this year, at a valuation of more than one billion dollars. The company aims to release its first product in 2025.
Felix and Paul Break Ground For Immersive Attraction Interstellar Arc Attraction in Las Vegas. AREA15, the immersive art and entertainment district on the other side of I-15 in Las Vegas, has commenced construction on “Interstellar Arc,” a space-themed attraction developed by Emmy Award-winning Felix & Paul Studios, renowned for “Space Explorers,” the largest immersive production filmed in space. Scheduled to open in autumn 2025 within a custom-built 20,000-square-foot venue, “Interstellar Arc” will transport visitors to the 26th century, embarking on deep-space missions across the cosmos. This innovative experience will serve as a cornerstone of AREA15’s 20-acre expansion, known as the Vegas Immersive District, which aims to welcome 3.5 million guests annually and generate $796 million in on-site spending. The expansion will also feature a year-round horror attraction by Universal Destinations & Experiences.
Virtuix launches Omni One Core full-body VR system for PC gamers The Omni One Core, an omni-directional VR treadmill designed for PC gamers who already own VR headsets. This system enables users to physically walk, run, crouch, kneel, jump, strafe, and move backward within virtual environments, enhancing immersion and promoting physical activity during gameplay. The Omni One Core is compatible with PC VR headsets from brands like Meta, HTC, and Pico, integrating seamlessly with SteamVR’s extensive game library. Priced at $2,595, the package includes the treadmill, overshoes, foot trackers, and a Bluetooth dongle, while users provide their own VR headset. The treadmill features a compact four-foot diameter design, tool-free assembly, and built-in wheels for easy relocation. An adjustable support vest and sturdy aluminum arm ensure user safety by preventing collisions with physical objects. Virtuix, founded in 2013 and based in Austin, Texas, has raised over $40 million to date.
Kavan Cardoza, Michael Mitchell, and Sav Busser are the creative trio behind “The Batman – A Face Of Clay,” a fan film that blends their passion for the Batman franchise. Produced in three weeks with a keen cinematic eye and $200, “The Batman – A Face Of Clay” shows how Generative AI can level the playing field between fans and professionals. And that difference will narrow futher from here.
This column, formerly called “This Week in XR,” is also a podcast hosted by the author of this column, Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, former studio executive and co-founder of Red Camera, and Rony Abovitz, founder of Magic Leap. This week our guest is Michael Murray, CEO of Kopin. We can be found on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
What We’re Reading
Silicon Valley’s Obsession With AI Looks a Lot Like Religion (The MIT Press Reader)
New VR Games & Releases December 2024: Quest, SteamVR, PS VR2 & More (Upload VR)
