What happens when we repeat the mistakes of the early internet?
In this episode of Coffey & Code, Ashley Coffey sits down with immersive technology pioneer Ben Erwin to explore one of the most important conversations happening in AI and XR today: why open standards, interoperability, and digital ownership matter more than ever.
From his early work building websites in the 1990s to developing projects for the United Nations, the New York Times, and founding the Academy of Immersive Arts & Sciences, Ben shares how decades of experience have shaped his vision for the future of immersive technology.
Together, Ashley Coffey and Ben Erwin unpack the intersection of AI, open source software, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), WebXR, creator rights, public media, ethics, and the future of the internet.
If you care about where technology is headed—and who gets to shape it—this conversation is essential listening!
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why open standards matter for the future of AI and XR
How Flash’s collapse still impacts today’s technology decisions
The hidden risks of closed platforms and walled gardens
Why interoperability is critical for spatial computing
The future of digital ownership in AI and immersive media
How creator economies can become more ethical and sustainable
Why immersive technology needs its own public media ecosystem
Lessons startups can learn before building the next generation of AI products
What today’s AI revolution can learn from the early web
Why education and open ecosystems will determine who wins the next decade
EPISODE CREDITS:
Produced and edited by Ashley Coffey. Cover art designed by Ashley Coffey.
Headshot by Brandlink Media
Introduction music composed and produced by Ashley Coffey
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