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1 #52: Navigating the effect of AI on marketing jobs and the job market with Sue Keith, Landrum Talent Solutions 19:09
2024 Gaming Retrospective: AI, Atari’s Comeback, and the Rise of Lofi Worlds with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler
Manage episode 456125191 series 3291925
In this first part of a two-part episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler reflect on the key developments in the gaming industry in 2024. They explore Mike Verdu's appointment as Netflix’s VP of Generative AI for Games, his creator-first vision, and the rise of AI-driven tools to accelerate game development. The duo discusses Atari's nostalgic comeback, highlighted by founder Nolan Bushnell's insights on affordable VR tech like the Oculus Quest 3. They also tackle the staff exodus at Annapurna Interactive and its potential impact. The episode concludes with gaming-meets-music innovations, including Fortnite's Lofi Girl map, signaling a transformative era for gaming and media convergence.
Come for the tech, and stay for the magic!
Cathy Hackl Bio
Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech and gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platform 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 LinkedIn
Spatial Dynamics on LinkedIn
Lee Kebler Bio
Lee 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 LinkedIn
Key Discussion Topics
- 00:00 - Introduction to Generative AI in Gaming
- 01:39 - The Nostalgic Return of Atari
- 03:13 - Impact of the Oculus Quest 3
- 03:45 - Turmoil at Annapurna Interactive
- 07:09 - The Convergence of Movies and Video Games
- 09:21 - Evolving Media Properties
- 10:16 - The Lofi Girl Map in Fortnite
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
117 episodes
Manage episode 456125191 series 3291925
In this first part of a two-part episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler reflect on the key developments in the gaming industry in 2024. They explore Mike Verdu's appointment as Netflix’s VP of Generative AI for Games, his creator-first vision, and the rise of AI-driven tools to accelerate game development. The duo discusses Atari's nostalgic comeback, highlighted by founder Nolan Bushnell's insights on affordable VR tech like the Oculus Quest 3. They also tackle the staff exodus at Annapurna Interactive and its potential impact. The episode concludes with gaming-meets-music innovations, including Fortnite's Lofi Girl map, signaling a transformative era for gaming and media convergence.
Come for the tech, and stay for the magic!
Cathy Hackl Bio
Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech and gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platform 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 LinkedIn
Spatial Dynamics on LinkedIn
Lee Kebler Bio
Lee 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 LinkedIn
Key Discussion Topics
- 00:00 - Introduction to Generative AI in Gaming
- 01:39 - The Nostalgic Return of Atari
- 03:13 - Impact of the Oculus Quest 3
- 03:45 - Turmoil at Annapurna Interactive
- 07:09 - The Convergence of Movies and Video Games
- 09:21 - Evolving Media Properties
- 10:16 - The Lofi Girl Map in Fortnite
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
117 episodes
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1 Mixed Reality Headsets, Jason Momoa’s CPG Pivot, NASA x Oakley, Gen Z Careers, and Gaming AI with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler, and Jeff Shardell 1:00:50

1 AI Deepfakes, Danish AI Laws, Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest Zoom, and Atari vs ChatGPT with Lee Kebler and Adam Davis McGee 52:50

1 My Interview with two Humanoid Robots about Love 7:09

1 Smart Glasses, Policy and State of AI in DC, Nintendo Glitches, Salesforce’s AI Leap, and Meta vs. OpenAI with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler 47:52

1 Dating AI, Loving Human: Exploring AI Relationships, Meta’s New Tech Partnerships, Inside AWE, and Military AI with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler, and Adam Davis McGee 1:01:10

1 Meta XR, Snap Glasses, AI Dating, Apple AR, and Story Living with Cathy Hackl and Adam Davis McGee 29:53

1 Beyond the Hype: AI, AR, Spatial Computing and the Next Wave of Innovation with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler, and Sandy Carter 46:26

1 Vibe Coding, AI Journalism, XR Warfare, AI App Building, and Apple Gaming with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler 43:44

1 AI in Retail, Wearable Tech, Distributed Commerce, and Roblox Fashion with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler, and Dina Fierro 1:03:54

1 TechMagic Greatest Hits: Meta, Apple, XR Trends, the Future of Spatial Computing, and Creator Evolution with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler 1:09:18

1 Love in the Age of AI: Cathy Hackl with Samantha G Wolfe on Dating, Ethics, and Cathy’s Tech Intimacy Scale 54:45

1 GTA 6 Delay, Meta’s AI Ads, Deepfake Laws, Meta Ray-Ban Privacy, and Spotify’s AI DJ with Lee Kebler and Adam Davis McGee 45:40

1 Embedded Finance, Digital Wallets, AI Agents, and Payment Innovation in 2025 with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler, and Special Guest Nabil Manji 1:09:06

1 AI Photo Tracking, AR Marketing, Spatial Computing, and Humanoid Robots with Cathy Hackl, Lee Kebler, and Special Guest Tom Emrich 1:06:21

1 Cathy Takes the TED Stage, Nokia Bells Labs Centennial, Google XR Glasses, Sam Altman’s IP Stance, Global Tariffs, and VR Gaming Trends with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler 57:03
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