Dream Machines: Spatial Computing + AI – Details, episodes & analysis

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Dream Machines: Spatial Computing + AI

with Evan Helda

Technology

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/19d. Total Eps: 31

Dream Machines is a podcast & newsletter exploring spatial computing, AI, and how these tools can make us more human, not less. This convergence is about to collapse the boundary between imagination and reality, unlocking human potential in ways we can barely imagine. But it's also going to challenge everything we know about the human experience—about the self, identity, presence, and connection. Which is why Dream Machines isn’t just about where technology is going—it's about where it’s taking us.... Dream Machines is hosted by Evan Helda: a writer and technologist who has been at the forefront of immersive tech (AR, VR, 3D) for the past 9 years. He's currently a business development leader for Spatial Computing at AWS (Amazon Web Services), driving go-to-market and product strategy for all things immersive tech. If you're interested new tech like the Apple Vision Pro or ChatGPT, or in interviews with exciting guests like Matthew Ball (author of 'The Metaverse'), Todd Kaplan (Curiosity expert and author of 'Curious?'), or Vince Kadlubek (co-founder of Meow Wolf), then you're in the right place!

www.dreammachines.ai

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🇩🇪 Germany - technology
05/07/2025
#69

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A Spatial Reckoning: Why One Industry Veteran Walked Away

Thursday, June 26, 2025 • Duration 01:38:43

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It’s time for some straight talk.

No hype, no press release optimism, no corporate spin. Just two guys with some scar tissue—and a lot of history—talking about what’s really happening in the world of spatial computing/XR.

In this episode, I sit down with Kharis O’Connell—former design leader at AR headset startup: Meta (the original Meta), Google, and Amazon.

Kharis has been in the XR arena since before the game began. From early experiments with Nokia's Point & Find in 2007 to helping define zero-learning-curve design principles at (OG) Meta, he’s seen the promise, the collapse, and the recycled hype cycles firsthand.

But this isn’t just a walk down memory lane.

It’s a reckoning.

Kharis recently left the XR industry. He’s no longer building AR glasses or pitching immersive futures to execs in Silicon Valley boardrooms. And that’s what makes this conversation special. He’s honest. Candid. Unfiltered. It’s the kind of clarity you only get once you’re no longer trying to raise funding or ship a prototype.

Reasons to listen:

* If you’re in the spatial computing space and having doubts

* If you’ve ever wondered why AR hasn’t had its iPhone moment

* If you’re building in this space and unsure whether to keep going

We cover:

* The philosophical vision behind the original Meta and why it failed

* Why “zero learning curve” design is mostly a myth

* What really happened at Google’s stealth AR program (and why it shut down)

* The failure of imagination across today’s use cases (yes, cooking demos again)

* Whether Apple Vision Pro was our “iPhone moment” (spoiler: it wasn’t)

* How the obsession with technology becomes an echo chamber—and how Kharis broke out

* The one big question every builder should ask themselves: Who is this for—and at what cost?

This episode won’t give you all the neat answers. But it will definitely give you better questions.

And if you’re like me—still carrying a flicker of belief that this tech can nourish the soul, not just the shareholder—then maybe that’s enough to keep going.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

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Introducing... Dream Machines [Audio]

Saturday, June 21, 2025 • Duration 05:25

Medium Energy is now Dream Machines, narrowing the focus on the most powerful force in technology today: the convergence of spatial computing and AI.

These tools are two sides of the same coin. Problem is... most people don't realize how and why. Nor do they realize what it means for their business, their careers, their children, their relationships, the list goes on.

This newsletter/pod will change that.

You see... Spatial computing has been misunderstood.

It's far more than just AR/VR headsets and the 'metaverse'.

Spatial computing is about any machine/device that can see, interact, and localize itself in the real world: this includes AR glasses, robots, drones, and self driving cars.

It also includes data, of an incredibly important kind... spatial data, i.e. data with an X-Y-Z coordinate, or what I like to call... 'world data' representing people, places, and things.

For decades, much of this data has lied dormant. Despite being immensely valuable, it's been woefully hard to access and to use. This ranges from 3D data (CAD, point clouds), to sensor data (IoT), to visual data of all types (photos, videos, scans)

But now, the terrain is shifting, and this data has an all new raison d'être...

AI is now supercharging spatial computing, and spatial is returning the favor — giving AI a body (robots), a perspective (3D computer vision), and a way to hear, navigate, and interact with the world (AR glasses).

Of most importance, it will give AI real world agency, and ultimately, the feedback loop needed to unlock the holy grail: AGI (artificial general intelligence).

At which point, the machines will dream, while helping humanity realize many of its dreams along the way.

As such, Dream Machines isn’t just a nod to the power of spatial + AI. It’s your window into all the ways the boundary between imagination and reality is about to collapse.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

Marty Bent (Part II) | You Don't Own Enough Bitcoin: 7 Steps Towards Economic Enlightenment

Saturday, July 20, 2024 • Duration 59:16

This is Part II of our mini-series with prominent bitcoin investor, thinker, and creator, Marty Bent in which we chart the necessary path towards ‘Bitcoin Enlightenment’, aka the phases of knowledge required to fully appreciate Bitcoin's purpose and potential.

The goal of this series is to address Bitcoin's marketing problem as one of the most misunderstood yet important technologies in common parlance today

If you've not listened to Part I, I'm going to refrain from shouting at you emphatically, and just say with complete patience and kindness... Press pause and go give Part I a listen. It was truly an awesome convo. We discuss the first 5 phases out of 7 and cover off on the 'what & why' of bitcoin

Here in Part II, we focus more on the 'how' and hit some of the more technical aspects that Bitcoin special & unique.

We also discuss:

- Marty's views on the Future of Media & Podcasting

- How he's going to run his media company on a Bitcoin standard

- His experience and foresight in running the largest bitcoin only investment firm, and the type of bets they are making.

So strap in, put on your slightly more technical hat, and enjoy this episode with Marty Bent

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

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Marty Bent (Part I) | You Don't Own Enough Bitcoin: 7 Steps Towards Economic Enlightenment

Thursday, July 18, 2024 • Duration 54:39

Despite being around for a while now, bitcoin remains woefully misunderstood.

It’s alarming to me how many people still roll their eyes at the topic. Yet, more often than not, these same people haven’t made any effort to understand why Bitcoin exists, what problems it solves, and why its useful.

This is especially alarming considering the current fiscal and economic environment we're in (as I discussed in this essay here: Why Bitcoin (Really) Matters)

So, to tackle said marketing problem, there's few people in the world more qualified than our guest, Marty Bent. He's one the most renowned thinkers, investors, and creators in the Bitcoin space, and he has quite the pedigree...

Throughout this conversation, we package up all this knowledge into what we believe are the necessary steps, or ‘phases of knowledge’, required to fully appreciate Bitcoin's purpose and potential.

Perhaps I’ll call these phases the path, or at least a path, to ‘Bitcoin Enlightenment’.

We broke this convo into a two-parter. Here in Part I, we cover steps 1-5 (out of 7) towards enlightenment. This includes:

1/ Understanding the Problem (aka the water we swim in, which I cover in depth in this essay here)

2/ Recognizing that we're being deceived

3/ Grasping what sound money is and isn’t

4/ Seeing the financial incentive & game theory at play, and

5/ Understanding the role of energy in both bitcoin and the wider energy grid

So if you're new bitcoin, prepare to expand your mind and start thinking a bit different. And if you're a bitcoin veteran, sit back and enjoy the unique musings of no other than Marty Bent.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

Matthew Ball | Building the Spatial Internet, AI + The Metaverse

Thursday, July 11, 2024 • Duration 53:50

This episode was a huge milestone for the podcast and a major personal goal, which was to interview Matthew Ball, author of the renowned best-selling book, ‘The Metaverse’.

If you want a quick and robust download on the latest/greatest in immersive tech + spatial computing, this is as good as it gets...

Matthew is one of (if not the) world’s most esteemed experts on the metaverse and spatial computing (AR, VR, immersive 3D).

In today’s show, we discuss the revised and updated version of Matthew’s book, coming out in mid-July. The new title is ‘The Metaverse: Building the Spatial Internet’.

This isn’t your typical ‘revised edition’. About 70% of the content is entirely new.

I mean… what testament to how fast this space is moving! For this level of update to be so necessary, and so worthwhile, all within just two years, is kind of crazy.

But it makes sense. So much has happened since, from the acceleration of AI, NVIDIA’s meteoric rise, the Apple Vision Pro, the competitive tension with Meta, the crypto bubble bursting and bouncing, the list goes on.

And in this conversation, we cover all of it, including:

* Matthew's more philosophical views on the space.

* The updates to the new book and how this market is evolving

* The ‘adjacent possible’ at the intersections of AI and Blockchain

* Digital twins + simulation + AI

* The future of identity

* The most important question society should be asking itself at this moment in time

We also ask Matthew, if he was starting a company today, where/how would he be focusing?

And at the end, we play a fun game to put Matthew's skills as a strategist to the test…

So if the broader evolution of the internet interests you, and if your curious how to take advantage, then strap in and perk up; this is a special one with one of the most renowned, most thoughtful, and most nuanced thinkers in the entire industry.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

E14: Sven Brunner - Part II | AI + Spatial Computing, Meta vs. Apple, Impacts on Humanity

Saturday, June 15, 2024 • Duration 45:52

Welcome back to our mini-series on spatial computing in the enterprise with Sven Brunner, CEO of Sphere: one of the top apps for enterprise grade collaboration/communication.

If you missed Part I, highly suggest you back and take a listen. Lots of important context around the state of enterprise adoption today, along with where & how companies are having success with AR, VR, and 3D more broadly.

Here in Part II, we cover:

* The convergence of Spatial Computing and AI

* How & why they're really a marriage made in heaven

* Where there's some real utility now, where this combo is heading.

We also hit on the impact of the Apple Vision Pro, and of course, in classic Medium Energy fashion, we end on a philosophical note, exploring why this future will be a good thing for humanity

Per usual, let know what you think of this one, and if you have 30 seconds to spare, would greatly appreciate a share with one friend, and if feeling generous, perhaps review on your favorite podcast player!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

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E13: Sven Brunner - Part I | Enterprise Spatial Computing & The Future of Collaboration

Thursday, June 13, 2024 • Duration 01:00:28

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Good day friends! We have another great show for you all today… especially if you're interested in all things spatial computing in the enterprise, along with its intersections with AI.

This interview is with Sven Brunner, the Founder & CEO of Sphere.

Sphere is one of the leading spatial computing apps in the enterprise space today. I liken them to a spatial Swiss army knife, satisfying a variety of use cases centered around immersive collaboration, and really any moment of knowledge transfer that would benefit from immersive, 3D visualization or ‘just in time’ information.

This recording went longer than expected, so we're breaking this episode into a two part mini-series.

Here in Part I we focus on the current state of enterprise adoption and hitting on a range of topics, including:

* What the future of work & collaboration is going to look like

* The challenges holding the back main stream adoption today

* Where & how customers are finding success and utility

* What conditions need exist for meaningful scale

In Part II, we’ll do a deep dive on the convergence of AI and Spatial.

Let me know what you think of this one. And if you enjoy, please consider sharing with a friend or three! (Oh, and toss a rating if you get a moment :-)

Alright, enough from me. Put on your business cap and enjoy this episode with Sven Brunner.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

E12: Quarterly Market Update | May 2024

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 • Duration 55:07

Alright folks, we’re launching a new addition to the content lineup: ‘The Quarterly Market Update’

Typically, we cover the more philosophical and practical sides of AI, Spatial Computing and Crypto.

Today, we’re exploring how to make money and grow wealth from these innovations.

Towards that end, this new segment will explore the most important things happening in financial markets and in the economy, with the goal of helping you better invest and plan for the future.

The plan is to do this right on the tails of earnings season... after all the most important companies show their financial cards.

To kick off this new series, we're leaning on a good friend and my go-to person for navigating the complexity of today’s market... and that's Hatem Dhiab.

Hatem is a Managing Partner at Gerber Kawasaki: one of the more renowned wealth management firms here in LA area.

Gerber Kawasaki well known for being more on the cutting edge of investing, particularly for being early bulls on Tesla and NVIDIA, placing heavy bets before the consensus rush. They've also trail blazed in giving clients early access to crypto.

So put on your money making cap, and enjoy this wide ranging chat on all things investing & current market conditions.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dreammachines.ai

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E11: Why Spatial Computing Matters | The past, present, and future of human computer interaction

Sunday, May 12, 2024 • Duration 55:57

Welcome back friends to Medium Energy!

This is another live panel recording from SXSW. It’s also one of my favorite panels to date…

It was titled ‘Redefining Reality’, so as you probably guessed, it’s about all things spatial computing i.e. the full spectrum of immersive, interactive real-time 3D experiences… from 3D on the web, to headsets like the Vision Pro, to simulations on phones/tablets/laptops.

If you’re in search of talk tracks to pitch friends, family, or colleagues on why spatial computing matters, and why its worth investing in, you're going to enjoy this one.

The panel includes a variety of leaders and really great thinkers in the space, representing hardware/software for creating VFX at live events (Disguise, CXO Alex Wills), to Snap and their AR lens creator platform (Snap Global Director of Creative Studio, Resh Sidhu), to one of the top agencies in the world building spatial applications (Arcade XR CEO, John Meggitt)

This array of experience and perspectives allowed us to cover a variety compelling topics, including:

* The real 'so what' behind spatial computing, and the more fundamental & philsophical impact it will have.

* The idea of this not being just spatial computing, but rather 'experiential computing', and why that could change, well… everything.

* We also get practical and a bit technical, exploring the best practices brands need to consider to properly build & take advantage of spatial computing as it matures and transforms... and how to do so beyond just headsets.

I think you'll really enjoy this one, especially if you're trying to incorporate spatial into your company and/or work life. So let me know what you think, and if you do indeed enjoy, please consider sharing with a friend and leaving a review on Apple/Spotify!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

E10: The Front Lines of Spatial Computing + AI | Live Panel

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 • Duration 47:08

This is a live recording of a panel with Artist & the Machine during a 'Spatial Computing Salon' in LA.

Artist & The Machine is an awesome new event series put on by my friend Dani Van De Sande. She's pulling together an amazing community of builders, brands, and investors to connect in-real life to share ideas, co-create, and meld minds; all with a similar focus as Medium Energy: to champion the elements of tech that make us more human, not less.

This panel featured a very diverse and awesome line up of entrepreneurs within spatial computing.

We had Neha Singh, the founder & CEO of ObsessAR. Obsess is building the future of e-commerce via immersive, virtual retail environments. They’re effectively giving brands a digital 'come inside' button, helping customers better interact with and understand products.

We also had Reza Ali, CEO and Founder of Valence 3D: a 3D modeling app for iPhone, iPad, and eventually VisionPro. Check it out… it’s a really slick 3D creation tool for non-3D experts.

And lastly, Don Allen Stevenson, a prominent influence & creator in this space, educating people on all the ways to use AI and spatial. He also has one of the best nick names I've heard in the content creation realm — “the Bob Ross of the metaverse’...

If you don't know who Bob Ross is, your probably a Gen Z’er… *sigh- Just look him up on YouTube. A true gem of the 80's and 90's public TV era..

During the panel, we hit on all kinds of juicy topics at the heart of Spatial Computing and AI, including:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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Dream Machines: Spatial Computing + AI – Details, episodes & analysis

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