Is the metaverse actually dead or just badly branded?

On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Christian Venables, co-founder of Radical Realities.

Christian specializes in immersive technology and AI, staying at the forefront of emerging tools, platforms, and workflows. With a strong foundation in architecture and design, he has transitioned into extended reality (XR), exploring the evolving possibilities of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and spatial computing. He is the Co-Founder of Radical Realities, a global immersive studio of creative innovators operating entirely virtually. The studio delivers experiences that transcend the physical world, spanning metaverse development, gaming, AR/VR/MR, CGI, VFX, and AI consultancy. Throughout his career, Christian has led and contributed to immersive projects for globally recognized brands including Coachella, Universal, Disney, Cartier, and Hyundai.

Christian sits down with Geoff to break down why the metaverse will be rebranded and not abandoned. The real future isn’t cartoon avatars or fantasy worlds, but spatial computing, AR glasses, and ambient interfaces that blend seamlessly into everyday life. Despite years of hype, backlash, and false hope, the metaverse may finally be entering its most practical and powerful phase. Christian explains why the term itself may disappear, while the underlying technologies XR, spatial computing, AI-driven 3D design, and wearable AR glasses, are already reshaping how we work, learn, design, and collaborate. From Meta Ray-Ban display glasses and neural wristbands to Gravity Sketch, Unreal Engine, and AI-assisted worldbuilding; This conversation explores how immersive computing is moving beyond gimmicks into real-world utility, especially across architecture, engineering, education, and the creative industries.

In this video:

00:00 Intro

03:00 Is the metaverse dead or just misbranded?

06:00 Spatial computing vs virtual worlds

09:00 Why AR glasses matter more than headsets

12:00 Smart glasses: why this wave is different

15:00 Neural wristbands and gesture-based control

18:00 How quickly humans become dependent on tech

21:00 The split between human-made and AI-generated culture

24:00 Augmenting creativity instead of replacing it

27:00 Designing entirely inside VR

30:00 Gravity Sketch: true 3D creation explained

34:00 Why spatial collaboration beats screens

38:00 Real-world use cases: architecture & manufacturing

42:00 Why mouse and keyboard are reaching their limits

47:00 AI + XR: generating worlds in real time

52:00 What needs to happen before immersive tech scales

56:00 Should immersive computing be back on our radar?

Connect with Christian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-venables-74542836/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csavenables/

X: https://x.com/Csavenables

Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast

Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG