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August 20, 2025 66 mins

Cathy and Lee are taking a break this month, and August is Greatest Hits time on TechMagic as we pull out some special episodes from our vault. In this Greatest Hits episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler unpack viral AI trends, privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT's photo location capabilities, and the future of spatial computing with special guest Tom Emrich, author of "The Next Dimension." They discuss the marketing power of augmented reality, including Avon’s 320% sales boost, and examine the evolution from smartphone-based AR to smart glasses and mixed reality. Tom introduces the “Play, Pilot, Proof” framework and explains why “presence” is the new P in marketing. It’s a compelling look at how digital and physical worlds are fast converging.


What you will learn:

  • How AI tools like ChatGPT can identify photo locations with striking accuracy
  • Why the "em dash" has become a telltale sign of AI-generated content
  • The significance of "presence" as the new P in marketing 
  • How dark factories are revolutionizing manufacturing with robot-only operations
  • Why brands need to follow the "Play, Pilot, Proof" framework 
  • How spatial computing is transforming from smartphone-based AR to wearable devices 
  • The implications of viral AI trends for privacy and data collection
  • The potential impact of AI replacing white-collar workers and C-suite executives
  • How brands can leverage AR for marketing with conversion rate increases of up to 320%


Come for the tech, stay for the magic!


Tom Emrich Bio

Tom Emrich is a pioneering product leader in spatial computing with over 15 years of experience in AR, VR, and wearables. He’s helped shape the future of human-technology interaction through roles at Meta and Niantic, where he led AR platform strategy, launched industry-first AR Ads, and introduced mixed reality experiences. As the author of The Next Dimension, Tom offers a definitive guide to using AR for business growth. He’s also an investor, startup advisor, and ecosystem builder, known for founding We Are Wearables and co-producing AWE. A recognized thought leader, Tom’s insights have been featured in Forbes, CNN, and The New York Times.


Tom Emrich on LinkedIn

Buy the Next Dimension here


Key Discussion Topics:


  • 00:00 Welcome to Tech Magic with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler
  • 04:45 AI Trends: From Studio Ghibli to Dogs as Humans
  • 08:25 ChatGPT's Photo Location Detection: Privacy Concerns Revealed
  • 17:35 The Em Dash: How to Spot AI-Generated Content
  • 25:30 Should You Say "Please" and "Thank You" to AI?
  • 35:38 Interview: Tom Emrich on The Next Dimension of AR Marketing
  • 40:51 How AR is Transforming the Marketing Funnel
  • 44:29 The Evolution of Spatial Computing Hardware
  • 50:13 "Presence" - The New P in Marketing
  • 56:10 Humanoid Robots and Dark Factories: The Future of Manufacturing



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