TechMagic with Cathy Hackl

In this Greatest Hits episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Adam Davis McGee dive into the cutting edge of spatial computing, AI, and extended reality. Join Cathy and Adam as they unpack Meta’s XR partnership with Palmer Luckey, Snap’s smart glasses ambitions, and Apple’s sleek AR design strategy. Cathy dives into the strange world of vibe coding and discovers anyone can gamify the pitfalls of the dating scene. The conversation also explores AI dating experiments, haptic tech in entertainment, and the evolving ethics of privacy in a spatially connected world. With insights from AWE and ILMxLAB, they reflect on the shift from storytelling to “story living” and highlight key legislation shaping AI security. A must-listen for anyone tracking the future of tech-human interaction.Come for the tech, stay for the magic!Cathy Hackl BioCathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming. Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more. Cathy Hackl on LinkedInSpatial Dynamics on LinkedInLee Kebler BioLee has been at the forefront of blending technology and entertainment since 2003, creating advanced studios for icons like Will.i.am and producing music for Britney Spears and Big & Rich. Pioneering in VR since 2016, he has managed enterprise data at Nike, led VR broadcasting for Intel at the Japan 2020 Olympics, and driven large-scale marketing campaigns for Walmart, Levi’s, and Nasdaq. A TEDx speaker on enterprise VR, Lee is currently authoring a book on generative AI and delving into splinternet theory and data privacy as new tech laws unfold across the US.Lee Kebler on LinkedInAdam Davis-McGee BioAdam Davis-McGee is a dynamic Creative Director and Producer specializing in immersive storytelling across XR and traditional media. As Senior Producer at Journey, he led the virtual studio, pioneering cutting-edge virtual experiences. He developed a Web3 playbook for Yum! Brands, integrating blockchain and NFT strategies. At Condé Nast, Adam produced engaging video content for Wired and Ars Technica, amplifying digital storytelling. His groundbreaking XR journalism project, In Protest: Grassroots Stories from the Frontlines (Oculus/Meta), captured historic moments in VR. Passionate about pushing creative boundaries, Adam thrives on crafting innovative narratives that captivate audiences worldwide.Adam Davis-McGee on LinkedInKey Discussion Topics:00:00 Intro: Welcome to Tech Magic with Cathy Hackl06:33 Meta's Eagle Eye: Military XR Partnership with Palmer Luckey14:05 Apple's Liquid Glass: Paving the Way for AR Glasses17:25 Haptic Innovation: Apple's F1 Movie Trailer Experience19:18 Human vs AI: Why F1 Racing Needs the Human Element22:27 Browser History Dating: AI's Latest Match-Making Experiment26:27 Snap's Vision: Consumer Smart Glasses Coming in 202631:27 From Storytelling to Story Living: ILMxLAB's Immersive Future33:54 Closing Thoughts: Summer Break Announcement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Lee Kebler and Adam Davis McGee unpack the rapid shifts transforming AI, hardware, and creative industries. Cathy is away this week and will be back in the new year. Lee and Adam explore how RAM manufacturers are pivoting away from consumer electronics toward AI, and how this will spike gaming and device prices in 2026, why Meta’s mixed-reality delays open the door for Google’s surprising partnership with Warby Parker, and how Google may be quietly edging ahead in the AI race. In the second half, Lee speaks with Ryan McMahan, who breaks down the legal and ethical storm surrounding AI-generated music. Together, they examine copyright grey zones, artist rights, and why AI is becoming more of an accelerant for creativity than a replacement for human artistry.Come for the tech and stay for the magic!Key Discussion Topics:01:40: RAM Shortage Will Devastate Consumer Electronics Pricing in 202606:12: Meta's Mixed Reality Delay & the Battle Between Google and Meta11:29: Why Google Will Win the AI Race Over OpenAI23:52: AI Music Generation and the Copyright Crisis on Spotify33:28: Meet Ryan McMahan: Artist Manager Fighting for Creator Rights35:34: Blanco Brown's Story: From Platinum to Fighting AI38:50: The First Major Artist Covers an AI-Generated Song40:45: Understanding Covers vs. Derivatives in Copyright Law45:51: AI as a Creative Tool, Not a Job Replacement50:32: The Fast Fashion Problem in Modern Music Production57:31: Independent Artists Need Representation at Policy Tables01:01:45: Creative Industry Workers Share AI Concerns and Opportunities01:04:17: Meta's Consent Prompt: Is Algorithmic Boost Tied to AI Training Permission?01:05:59: Key Takeaways: AI, Copyright, and the Future of Creative Work Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler explore how the future of AI is being shaped through hardware innovation happening around the world. They break down breakthroughs in autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots, and spatial computing, highlighting why hardware ownership now determines who controls data, training models, and long-term AI power. Cathy shares insights from her travels across Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while the hosts examine China’s accelerating hardware ecosystem, Gen Alpha’s rejection of “AI slop,” and the shift toward vision-action models. It’s a fast, global look at where AI is really advancing, and why it matters.Come for the tech and stay for the magic!Key Discussion Topics: [00:00] Intro[00:23] Saudi Arabia and Qatar are booming in tech and entertainment.[00:04:00] Formula One tech highlights the Abu Dhabi Championship showdown.[00:07:13] Autonomous racing vs. human drivers shows motorsports’ future.[00:10:23] NVIDIA's AlphaMoor offers open-source vision-language models.[00:14:23] Women often prefer autonomous vehicles to human drivers.[00:20:44] Owning hardware means owning data: the AI supremacy principle.[00:22:19] Global hardware innovations from Alibaba, Huawei, and ByteDance are under the radar.[00:26:51] "Human-authored" labels reveal widespread AI fatigue.[00:30:05] Gen Alpha rejects AI content, demanding authentic creations.[00:33:55] Copyright issues arise when sampling AI-generated music.[00:37:03] Cathy’s Middle East speaking tour and CES 2025 lineup updates.[00:39:33] Holiday spending is shifting to experiences over products.[00:42:14] Book picks: the future of storytelling and understanding people.[00:44:49] Gaming culture highlights: Dungeon Crawler Carl, FNAF 2, and Stranger Things.[00:46:34] Key takeaways: physical AI, hardware ownership, and authentic human connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler break down the biggest shifts shaping tech, entertainment, and personal branding. They explore emerging trends, from real-world experiences like Beastland, to the growing influence of spatial computing, and why authentic human content is becoming a premium as AI saturation rises. In the second half, Cathy sits down with David Cash, Founder and CSO of Cash Labs, Founder and Executive Producer of Catalyst Content Haus and Head of Marketing and acting CMO of DeLorean Labs, to discuss building a future-proof personal brand, repurposing content at scale, and why founders must take ownership of their digital presence now. Together, they reveal practical strategies for standing out and earning trust in an AI-driven media landscape.Come for the tech and stay for the magic!David Cash Bio:David Cash is the Founder of Cash Labs and Catalyst, recognized as a leading force in bringing Web3 and emerging technologies to market. After a 12-year acting career and seven years running a production company, working on campaigns for brands like Brisk, Gaviscon, and Netflix, David became an early leader in Web3, authoring the first Master’s thesis on NFTs and producing Metaverse Fashion Week. Through Cash Labs, his work has driven billions of impressions and major revenue for global brands. His newest venture, Catalyst, helps executives create high-impact, future-ready content.David Cash on LinkedInKey Discussion Topics: 00:00 Intro: Tech Magic Returns from the Middle East00:03 Beastland: MrBeast's Pop-Up Amusement Park Phenomenon in Riyadh00:08 Apple Vision Pro & Real Madrid: The Future of Immersive Sports Content00:12 Tim Cook's Potential Departure and Apple's Need for Disruption00:16 Meta Quest 3S at Costco for $200: The VR Hardware Game Heats Up00:20 Meet David Cash: From Child Actor to Web3 Pioneer and Content Strategist00:24 Why Business Leaders Must Own Their Content Strategy Now00:27 Catalyst: Productizing Executive Content Creation Into a Luxury Service00:30 How to Build a Personal Brand Session in One Day00:33 The Dead Internet Theory: Why Authentic Voices Are Your Competitive Moat00:36 Syndication Strategy: Turn One Piece of Content Into 1,000 Assets00:37 Legacy Media Still Matters: Why Adweek and Vogue Amplify Personal Brands00:40 The Evolution of Entertainment: From Broadway to Authentic Vlogging00:43 Human-Crafted Content as Luxury: The OnlyFans to OnlyWalks Future00:44 The Metaverse Isn't Web3: Redefining Virtual Spaces and Digital Identity00:48 How Your Content Choices Today Shape Your XR Future Tomorrow00:52 AI as a Tool: When to Use Generative Tech and When to Create Authentically00:53 The "Human Authored" Label: Why AI Slop Is Making Credibility Scarce00:57 Silicon Valley's Billion-Dollar Paradox: Oracle, SoftBank, and Unsustainable Bets01:00 Hardware Matters: Why Lam Research Is the Invisible Infrastructure Winner01:03 Key Takeaways: Personal Branding, Content Strategy, and the Human Edge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is booming, VR is evolving, and AR is exploding into the real world—but most of it still feels underwhelming.On this week’s episode of TechMagic, host Lee Kebler welcomes Andrew Schwartz while host Cathy Hackl is away. Andrew is the Director of Metaverse Engineering at Nike, and together, they unpack the realities behind today’s AI hype cycle, revealing why generative AI can feel both astonishing and underwhelming. They explore brand risks in AI-driven content, the fight against AI slop in music distribution, and the long road to mainstream VR and AR adoption. Andrew and Lee also break down Pokémon GO’s execution-first success and the rise of identity-based tech, from digital product passports to personalized, location-aware experiences, offering a clear-eyed look at what truly comes next in immersive technology.Come for the tech and stay for the magic!Andrew Schwartz BioAndrew Schwartz is a technology strategist and the Director of Metaverse Engineering at Nike, where he pioneered emerging technology integration within the Technology Innovation Office. Having coined the title "godmother of the metaverse" for industry luminary Cathy Hackl, Andrew brings deep expertise in blockchain identity, XR/AR/VR technologies, and spatial computing. Andrew Schwartz on LinkedInKey Discussion Topics: [00:00] Intro[00:00] Welcome to Tech Magic with Andrew Schwartz[00:01] How "Godmother of the Metaverse" Became Cathy Hackl's Defining Title[00:03] Nike's Metaverse Engineering and Emerging Technologies[00:06] Technology First vs. Outcome First: The Real AI Hype Cycle Challenge[00:13] Why Coca-Cola's 70,000-Prompt AI Christmas Ad Reveals a Deeper Problem[00:16] Imperfection as Strategy: When Flaws Build Brand Trust[00:21] The AI Music Crisis: How Spotify and CD Baby Protect Indie Artists[00:27] Copyright, Authenticity, and the Future of AI-Generated Content[00:31] VR Headsets Are Impressive—But Where's the Killer App?[00:34] Apple Vision Pro: Great Technology, Missing Experience[00:36] Why Beat Saber Succeeded Where Other VR Games Failed[00:38] Content Over Hardware: Lessons from iPhone, iPod, and Atari[00:40] Pokemon Go Wasn't About AR—It Was About the Brand[00:42] Super Nintendo World Shows How to Make Technology Invisible[00:44] The Future of Identity: Digital Product Passports and NFC Activation[00:47] Music Recommendation: SAULT, Neo-Soul, and the Mystery of AI[00:49] Key Takeaways: Where Tech Magic Actually Happens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.