What happens when AI moves off the screen and into your field of view?

Recorded live at Web Summit Qatar, this TechFirst episode dives deep into the real future of XR ... beyond the hype cycles of VR headsets and toward smart glasses, physical AI, and contextual computing.

Host John Koetsier sits down with Amy Peck, founder of EndeavorXR, to unpack what’s actually working in AR, VR, and mixed reality, and why the most important XR breakthroughs may not be for humans at all.

They explore:

• Why VR was never “dead” but always a destination technology

• How physical AI and robotics rely heavily on AR and spatial understanding

• Why smart glasses are emerging as the next AI-native device

• What Meta, Apple, Google, and NVIDIA are really signaling with their hardware bets

• The hidden risks of eye tracking, biometric data, and always-on augmentation

• How digital twins, virtual training, and simulation are reshaping manufacturing and robotics

• The uncomfortable truth: we’re about to let Big Tech into our most private spaces

This is a candid, funny, and deeply informed conversation about where XR is going, who will control the data, and why augmentation, not immersion, is likely the future.

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🎙 Guest

Amy Peck

Founder & CEO, EndeavorXR

XR strategist advising global enterprises, governments, and emerging tech leaders

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📌 Key Themes

XR • Smart Glasses • Physical AI • Robotics • Digital Twins • Privacy • Apple Vision Pro • Meta • AI Hardware • Contextual Computing

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00:00 Introduction: Letting Big Tech Into Our Lives

01:05 XR vs AI Hype: Why Smart Glasses Still Matter

02:10 Is VR Dead? Destinations vs Everyday Reality

03:15 Physical AI, Robotics, and AR Navigation

04:20 Digital Twins and Training Robots at Scale

05:40 Virtual Production, Hollywood, and Convergence

07:10 Meta’s Billions: What Worked and What Didn’t

08:55 Smart Glasses Strategy: Meta’s Real Bet

10:10 Apple Vision Pro: Luxury First, Scale Later

11:45 Why Headsets Collect Dust (And What Comes Next)

13:10 Eye Tracking, Privacy, and Data Risk

14:35 Smart Glasses as the True AI Device

15:55 Wearables, Biometrics, and Health Data

17:15 Remembering People, Faces, and Conference Chaos

18:55 Augmented Notes, Meetings, and Productivity

20:20 The Future of XR: Personalization and AI

22:10 Trust, Data Ownership, and Tech Ecosystems

24:00 Sovereign AI and Global Trust Issues

25:20 AI Slop, Training Data, and Creativity Risks

26:40 Final Thoughts: The Augmented, Intelligent Future