Virtual World Society

Meet AR/VR Innovators – This One Night Changes Everything! We’ve updated our Virtual World Society Charity Dinner & Auction to allow you to join remotely and bid online for FREE! FYI, our board member Mark Billinghurst will match every donation up to 20k! His contributions also include the invention of the AR “MagicBook,” which won him multiple awards. Additionally, Billinghurst pioneered multimodal input – combining natural language and AI techniques to allow human-computer interaction with an intuitive mix of voice, gesture, speech, gaze, and body motion. Whether you’re attending in person or from the comfort of your home, you’ll have the opportunity to network with AR/VR pioneers, bid on exclusive items, and support a great cause. ?? Thu, October 24 ?? Hilton Bellevue, WA or Online ??? Register for the online auction here: https://buff.ly/3NseZBa Don't miss out on bidding for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including dinner with Tom Furness, historic AR/VR memorabilia, and more! Let’s come together to make an impact in the XR/VR community! #VirtualWorldSociety #XR #VR #CharityAuction #AuctionOnline #ARVRInnovators

?? Join Us for the October Fireside Chat with Alvin Graylin of HTC Vive! On October 25, 2024, the Virtual World Society is excited to host Alvin Graylin, President of HTC Vive China, as our special guest for this month’s Fireside Chat. Hosted by the legendary Dr. Tom Furness, this in-depth conversation will dive into Alvin’s pioneering work in immersive tech and the future of VR/AR. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from one of the top leaders in the industry! ?? Add to your calendar and join us for this inspiring 1-hour session: https://buff.ly/47T19RB #VWSFiresideChat #HTCVive #XRLeadership #VirtualWorldSociety #ImmersiveTech

A couple of days ago, Max Tegmark wrote up an interesting piece on why an #AGI #ArmsRace between #China ???? and #US???? is a bad idea. I agree with him on the conclusion of not pursuing such an “suicide” arms race and that there can be no winner, but I differ strongly on the reasoning, the real #risks and the solution to improve the situation. Too many in the #AI #safety community are focused purely on an AI take-over scenario and aligning AGI to human values, when there is no clear evidence that super intelligent AI will become evil and unclear who’s (set of) human values we should align. Values and ethics differ dramatically between peoples and over time. There is plenty of evidence of bad actor humans and incompetent leaders who would do harm with a highly aligned super weapon. The last time someone in the world (a supposedly human rights valuing democratic country) won a super-weapon arms race, the first thing the winner did was use it on civilians to send a message to the world.?? This is the path we are on as major global powers race towards weaponizing AI. If any one country wins, we all lose. We’re already on a slippery slope. The only solution is to think long term and work together to create AGI so all the worlds views/cultures can be contained in it and its benefits can be shared amongst humanity, not a “winning” set of people. Also, by combining the limited compute, training data and talent of the world on such a project, we are much more likely to create a truly wise AI, which has the breadth of understanding to help us, vs a immature yet powerful system that will just obey some random leader’s wishes. Achieving safe and wise AGI has a good chance to bring on an age of abundance to the world and solve issues that have plagued humanity for millennia.?? Let’s not squander this opportunity by weaponizing it for perceived self gain. More details can be found in the book, Our Next Reality. ?? https://lnkd.in/gwrNny9s #AI #pdoom #AISafety #AIAlignment #eacc #ASI #OurNextReality Louis Rosenberg Hachette Books Paul S. Triolo Peter H. Diamandis John Werner Asia Society Gary Marcus Roman Yampolskiy Erik Brynjolfsson Fei-Fei Li Dario Amodei Dava Newman Ray Kurzweil Virtual World Society Tom Furness

?? We’re less than 2 weeks away from AWE EU 2024 in Vienna! ?? Get ready for an unforgettable experience with top AR/VR innovators, exciting sessions, networking opportunities, and so much more. ?? Great news for our community! We’re now offering 25% OFF registration with our exclusive discount code: 24VWS20D. https://lnkd.in/dPprZFxk Don’t miss out on this amazing deal! ?? And if you register by October 20th, you’ll automatically be entered into our raffle to win the newly launched Meta Quest 3S. Let’s make XR history together in Vienna! ??? #AWE2024 #AR #VR

Exciting news! Our board member Laura Kusumoto will join Walter Greenleaf in an online conversation for the "Innovating in Healthcare" series, hosted by WeavrCafe. If you're interested in how technology reshapes patient care, this event is a must! ???? ?? October 15th ?? 9-10 AM Pacific Catch the insights and connect with leaders shaping the future of healthcare innovation. Learn more here: https://buff.ly/3Yk7RNk #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #WeavrCafe

The Future of AI & VR: XR Legend Jonathan Waldern Predicts What's Coming Next – A Must-Listen AWE 2024 Exclusive At AWE 2024 USA, our host Maxwell created a pop-up podcast booth to chat with the inspiring individuals shaping the emerging tech world. Maxwell interviews XR Hall of Fame legend Jonathan Waldern in this tenth episode! ?? Don’t miss it: https://buff.ly/3Yj2Qo2 #VWS2024 #Podcast #Innovation #AI #XR #VR #TechForGood #AWE2024

?? You're invited! ?? The Virtual World Society is hosting a Charity Dinner & Auction to raise awareness and support for our mission of using immersive technologies like XR and VR to solve real-world problems. This is your opportunity to enjoy a meaningful evening while helping to fund our future projects. ?? Date: Thu, Oct 24, 6:30pm - 9:30pm PDT ?? Location: Hilton Bellevue, WA Join fellow thought leaders and changemakers for an inspiring evening of networking, a delicious meal, and a chance to bid on one-of-a-kind XR/VR experiences and items in our exclusive auction. Secure your spot and tickets here: https://buff.ly/3YhGROh Let's create an impact together through the power of technology! ?? #VirtualWorldSociety #TechForGood #CharityEvent #XRInnovation #VirtualReality #ImmersiveTech #VRforGood

Join the Virtual World Society today and unlock the power of immersive technology to transform lives! Imagine a world where virtual reality isn't just for entertainment but is used to solve real-world challenges, from education to healthcare. At the Virtual World Society, we bring together innovators, educators, and tech pioneers dedicated to creating a brighter, more inclusive future. Your membership gives you exclusive access to cutting-edge research, collaborative projects, and a global network of like-minded visionaries. Don’t just be a spectator in the world of emerging tech—be a part of it. Join us and make a meaningful impact. Learn more and become a member today! https://buff.ly/4gsrZDW #VirtualWorldSociety #ImmersiveTech #TechForGood #FutureOfVR #VRForImpact

The upcoming AWE EU 2024 event will occur in Vienna in just under a month! Attend the premier XR event of the year on October 29-30, 2024 at the Austria Center Vienna. Join us for an unforgettable experience. @AWE EU 2024 is set to gather leading creators, businesses, and experts in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and immersive technology. With a lineup of over 120 exhibitors and more than 2,000 participants, it promises to be a hub of innovation and collaboration!' It’s your EU opportunity to dive into the future of XR innovation with our discounted code: 24VWSD Seize the chance to delve into state-of-the-art technology, connect with key figures in the industry, and experience revolutionary presentations. ?? Tickets Here: https://buff.ly/3ZEt6dP #AWE2024 #XREvent #Vienna #ImmersiveTech #AR #VR #Innovation

?? Join us this October for the Educators in VR Campaign against Online Harassment in 2024! In today's digital age, the issue of online harassment, also known as cyberbullying, is becoming increasingly prevalent. Educators in VR are spearheading efforts to unite experts, educators, and concerned individuals to address and combat cyberbullying in virtual realms. ?? These sessions will offer valuable insights into the effects of cyberbullying, aiding victims, and establishing safer virtual environments. ??? Explore the event schedule here: https://buff.ly/3zJwQQB Together, let's create a safer, more supportive virtual community. #CyberbullyingPrevention #DigitalSafety #EducatorsInVR #ProtectOurChildren #OnlineSafety #CyberbullyingAwareness