Podcast
Dream Machines: Physical AI, Robotics, Being Human
Hosted by with Evan Helda · EN
Dream Machines is a podcast & newsletter exploring physical AI, robotics, and the future of the human experience.
These new tools unlocking human potential in ways we can barely imagine.
But they're also going to challenge everything we know about the human experience — our sense of self, of reality, of each other.
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 spatial computing for the past 9 years. He's currently the Head of Physical AI & Robotics at Nebius, of the world's leading AI clouds.
www.dreammachines.ai
www.dreammachines.ai
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Healing Power of Immersion w/ Dr. Walter Greenleaf
Apr 20, 202501:08:02Tap to summarizeToday’s episode is an inspiring ride through the future of medicine, healing, and human potential.My guest is Dr. Walter Greenleaf, a legend in the world of virtual reality and healthcare. For nearly 40 years, Walter’s been building and studying how immersive tech can treat PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, addiction, and even rewire how we think and feel.Walter's primary role today is within Stanford Universty, where a Direector within Stanford Medical Mixed Reality center, and the resident AR/VR expert within ther Virtual Human Interaction Lab. His work sits at the cutting edge of neuroscience, immersive design, and digital wellness—and he’s advised countless startups and health systems on how to bring these technologies into the real world at scale.In this conversation, we go deep on...- the rise of emotionally intelligent technology- the science of neuroplasticity, how VR can train us to be more mindful parents or more compassionate teammates- how it might soon work alongside psychedelics, AI, and even becomes a tool to explore our future selves. 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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The Ultimate Trifecta | Digital Twins + Spatial Computing + AI
Mar 27, 202500:38:48Tap to summarize* Apple Podcast Link* Spotify Podcast LinkI recently sat down with Ashley Crowder, CEO of VNTANA, on her podcast Connected in 3D. We discussed all things at the intersection of spatial computing, digital twins, and AI, and where this convergence is heading within the enterprise space.We covered…* Why spatial computing is more than just headsets—it’s any system that sees and simulates the world* The real reason most companies are stuck in pilot purgatory* What a “spatial data plane” is and why companies need one* How AI + 3D data unlocks powerful new use cases—from training robots to designing factories* And why I believe generative UI will be the breakthrough that makes this all mainstreamIf you’re interested in using digital twins, immersive tech, or AI to make better decisions—not just more noise—this one’s worth a listen. And if you enjoy, please do give us some stars on your favorite podcast player, and please consider sharing with a friend or two! Really helps us spread the good word :) 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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From Spatial Computing to Contextual Computing w/ Nir Daube
Mar 4, 202501:21:32Tap to summarizeHow much of your life is spent staring at a screen?Probably more than you care to admit.Now imagine, all that distraction and friction disappearing. No more scrolling, typing, tapping. No more barriers between you and the information you need. No more heads down moments, getting lost in an array button, menus, and icons, breaking the flow of conversation and connection.Instead, AI gets unleashed from tiny text boxes. It greets you as a companion in the real world, enhances your day without distracting from it, and moves us from a world of fixed, flat UI’s to generative, spatial UI’s, adapting based upon what we’re doing, who we’re with, and where we are; perhaps even how we’re feeling…That’s the world a new startup called LIBBA is building; a world in which AR glasses and AI fuse to transform human-computer interaction, and our relationship with technology.In this episode, we’ll jump 5-10 years into the future to explore the human experience once LIBBA accomplishes this mission.How do we get there? Where are we now in the technology adoption cycle? And in classic Medium Energy fashion, we explore the philosophical questions behind this degree of merging the digital with the physical, and ask: how do we ensure that this future makes us more human—not less?To help answers these questions, I bring you Nir Daube, CEO of LIBBA. 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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Upgrading Your Mind for the Digital Age w/ Todd Kashdan
Dec 31, 202401:06:17Tap to summarizeWe’re closing out the year with a special one…As most of you know, part of the Medium Energy mission is to explore what it means to be human in the age of exponential technology.If that question interests you, this conversation absolutely delivers.We’re peeling back the layers of the human psyche and exploring the future of emotional and psychological well-being. At the heart of the conversation is the power of curiosity.We’ve all felt curiosity. But let’s be honest—how many of us truly know how to harness it as a tool to improve our lives?To help us do exactly that, we're speaking with Todd Kashdan, a renowned psychologist and one of the world’s top authorities on not just curiosity, but also on the psychology of well-being, psychological strength, mental agility, and social relationships.Todd is also one of my favorite authors, with numerous books that have reached millions of people. What sets his work apart is that he doesn’t just study human behavior; he dissects it, challenges it, and rebuilds it from the ground up. In doing so, he’s developed some rather contrarian takes, all of which I think are spot on. And I’m not the only one… his research is starting to blow up. He's been featured in major outlets like Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes, and the Hidden Brain podcast. And if that’s not impressive enough, Todd ranks in the top 1% of cited scientists worldwide, with over 225 published articles and more than 48,000 citations.So buckle up—this is a special episode with a special thinker. And spoiler alert—I’m already looking forward to doing a Part II, as we uncovered so many more ideas to unpackWith that…. enjoy this first conversation with Todd Kashdan. 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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E6: Nils Pihl | The Convergence of AI, Spatial Computing, and Crypto
Feb 25, 2024Tap to summarize“We’re bringing digital things into our world for the first time. That’s going to be incredibly radical. And I think there are very few things you can work on as a technologist that are more meaningful than spatial computing. Because spatial computing is ultimately the eyes and ears and the proprioception, the physical understanding of the world, for AI. When you’re building spatial computing, you’re building the sensory apparatus of our future AI companions. And that’s a really meaningful thing to do.”- Nils Phil, CEO Auki LabsToday's episode is with Nils Pihl, the CEO of Auki Labs.Auki Labs is one of the most fascinating startups I've come across in a while, largely because they represent the complete trifecta we focus on here at Medium Energy: spatial computing, AI, and blockchainThey’re also fascinating due to their approach to building out one of the more important, yet under discussed frontiers in technology: the ‘AR Cloud’, or Augmented Reality Cloud.You can think of the AR Cloud as shared 3D scans (or digital reconstructions) of the physical world.These scans act as 3D maps (or digital twins) of physical environments, acting in turn as a digital fabric upon which augmented reality devices can synchronize and overlay digital content on the real world. This will allow multiple people to see/interact with the same content all in the same location, all while giving devices an understanding of the real world.In short, the AR Cloud is the foundation for allowing the internet to fully fuse with the real world, producing what is now being called ‘the spatial web’.The AR Cloud won’t only be critical for AR glasses. It can also power other computer vision based systems like self driving cars, robots, drones, etc.As for the blockchain & crypto element… No this is not about just visualizing NFTs in a virtual world. It’s being used for something much more compelling and consequential.Excited for you to listen to this one. It’ll really get the wheels spinning, while also providing valuable insights into:* The technology powering spatial computing* Some of it's more philosophical implications* How we can earn an income with Spatial + Crypto* How spatial computing can help us thrive in a world of AI and complete automationAlright, without further adieu, I bring you: Nils Pihl.If you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing with a friend or three! Oh, and would greatly appreciate a review + some stars. Really helps us grow & spread the good word. 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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