George Valavanis

Procedural Ruins Tutorial Julian Bragagna | In this lesson, learn how to create these alien-looking ruins. Start by learning how to build a procedural tool that transforms a rough blockout into a detailed, high-poly mesh that can be used inside Unreal. These kinds of tools are designed to give you fast iteration times, making it easier to experiment and refine your environments efficiently. https://lnkd.in/ge8PpuGp #Houdini #ProceduralGeneration #GameDevelopment #3DModeling #DigitalArt #VFX #CGI #EnvironmentArt #LevelDesign #GameArt #ProceduralTools #3DAnimation #VisualEffects #GameDesign #Tutorial #SideFX #ProceduralRuins #UnrealArtists #HoudiniArtists

25

Heard of a #NIM? I had a fascinating chat with Michael Kaplan at #GTC24 about the potential for Nvidia Inference Microservices to tackle challenges in the Media & Entertainment industry, in tandem with advancements in NVIDIA Omniverse and Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) that can really transform end-to-end workflows in previz and production pipelines. Watch the full interview! 👇

24

1 Comment

https://tr.ee/PfR6UCg_dn SDO - PHX - BOS - New album today. Listen anywhere you listen to music. This is the second of our 3 album commitment  The album "Code to Dust" by The Layoffs explores the theme of transformation and decay in the modern digital age. It delves into how technological advancements and societal shifts affect human experiences, relationships, and identities. The album takes listeners on a journey through various stages of this transformation, highlighting the tension between progress and obsolescence. With a narrative arc that moves from the initial excitement of innovation to the eventual disillusionment and disintegration, "Code to Dust" captures the complexities and consequences of living in a rapidly evolving world.

10

Quite fascinating, quirky, and odd, all at the same time. What do you make of this? https://lnkd.in/gG5MT8yT #SimpsonsAI #SpringfieldTech #ArtificialIntelligenceSimpsons #SmartSpringfield #Doh #SimpsonsTech #SmartHomer #BartificialIntelligence #SpringfieldFuture

2

3 Comments

This week on "On AI," I welcome back AI aficionado and philosopher, Lev Gorelov, for an insightful conversation. Link to episode: https://lnkd.in/ecYbq2uJ With a particular focus on the recent advancements with Claude III, Lev contrasts Claude III's approach to generations—geared towards creating engaging, personality-driven content—with the more traditional model (#openai 's #chatgpt) that prioritize business-oriented, "buttoned-up" outputs. He also explains the fundamentals of why, using the same training data (the entirety of the internet), the outputs vary. Throughout the episode, Lev shares insights into how these tools are not just about generating content or improving human productivity, but are enhancing the creative process. Specifically: * Giving us practical methods on how to leverage LLM's as collaborative partners that help bridge ideas and refine storytelling. * Emphasizing the importance of using AI tools creatively and responsibly, * Highlighting their role in brainstorming and editing rather than replacing human creativity. Join Beth and Lev as they explore the future of AI in creative professions and education, pondering the broader implications of these technologies on our understanding of originality and creativity (you might want a pen handy to take some notes). #AIPhilosopher #AINinja #Claude3 #BethOnAI #GenerativeAITalks #AIExperience #CreativeAISystems #AIContentCreation #PhilosophyMeetsAI #LevGorolevOnAI #OnAIpodcast #openai #anthropic #ClaudeIIIInsights #CreativeAI #AIInEducation #GenerativeContent #AIandCreativity #StorytellingWithAI #AIForCreatives #FutureOfAI #podcast #podcasting #aipodcasting

5

1 Comment

For those of you who had "KPop VR In A Theater" on your Friday Bingo Card, indulge me in geeking out a bit: I recently tried out a VR concert in a movie theater. Blending my love of emerging tech with my kid’s passion for K-pop, this was a unique way for us to explore our respective interests. Initially, I expected a standard 180-degree video, but the interactive hand-tracking element, though subtle, added an engaging twist that made it feel more like an active experience. Watching my hand turn into diamonds was a fun touch! At the start, the audience chooses a "lead character" from the band, offering some light interactivity before diving into immersive music videos. The video quality was remarkably clear, comparable to Apple Vision Pro, even on a Quest 3 headset. The environments varied in quality; abstract settings worked well, avoiding the “uncanny valley,” while more realistic scenes, like urban alleys, felt a bit off. The game-engine look fit the pop aesthetic, even if some environments felt like a video game. In this 180-degree format, camera cuts could disrupt immersion, but the creators wisely used slow, smooth movements to maintain a dynamic feel without causing motion sickness. However, there were moments when band members got uncomfortably close to the camera, which felt awkward, especially when the camera angles placed their faces too near my crotch! As a game developer, I’m particular about frame rates, and this experience ran smoothly at 60 fps, giving it a heightened sense of realism. However, fast dance moves caused slight stuttering, breaking the immersion. I’d love to see if the Apple Vision Pro version might improve on this, if the footage was shot at a higher frame rate. One of the best aspects was the theater's sound system, which enhanced the communal experience more comfortably than headphones. Even though we couldn’t see other audience members, the shared audio gave a sense of presence. However, they missed an opportunity to use the theater’s sound system more creatively. For instance, during audience prompts from the band, the silence in an empty theater was noticeable. Using directional audio to simulate a concert crowd could have amplified the immersive experience. The program lasted about 50 minutes, longer than I expected. By the end, the Quest 3 felt heavy, and the shifting sanitary liner required frequent adjustments. A lighter headset, like Bigscreen VR, would’ve been more comfortable. At $35 per ticket, this VR concert clearly targets fans and tech enthusiasts. While not for everyone, it was worth experiencing, particularly for the integration of VR with theater technology. However, the inability to enjoy popcorn during the show was a minor letdown!

12

1 Comment

Yesterday was exciting for the AR world! I believe Meta Orion is a major breakthrough from an engineering perspective. The UI and XR design aspects still need some work, and always-on AR glasses like Orion will also likely require a very different way of thinking about AR design. I just saw a video of me on YouTube that the Interaction Design Foundation put together based on my Master Class last December, and I believe it provides a helpful design thinking framework and makes the differences clearer. Most of us working in XR are pretty comfortable and confident in VR design, and yes we all know the principles of AR design, but we don't know what it'll mean to design for always-on AR experiences. That's why I've made the Future of AR the main research theme in my research group for the next 5 years. Below is the XR design framework I always teach in my classes: https://lnkd.in/geZwvgjF

116

8 Comments

MTai from MTI FILM now in CORTEX and DRS Nova. Nice article on page 26 of the latest POST Magazine about MTI FILM's products using generative AI with MTai.

43

1 Comment

A very humble contribution of mine in this article from Forbes about Blockade Labs’ release of Blendbox. Here is my full unedited note on the potential of this new breed of tool: “I approach AI art in much the same way as I have approached photoshop over the past 20 years, utilizing techniques like kitbashing and photo-bashing. Blendbox, even in its alpha stage, is a promising step toward integrating AI into creative workflows that digital artists have used for years. The advantage of a tool like Blendbox, particularly as new features roll out, is in retaining control over composition and concept, rather than allowing AI to dictate the entire composition, colors, and other details. My hope and expectation for the future are to see features like image uploads, enabling me to incorporate my own assets and apply my own LoRas to maintain consistency across a body of work, aesthetic style, or even within IP-owned projects. With features such as these, combined with shortcuts and layer management similar to Photoshop, and potentially even 3D file imports, a GenAI-powered software could provide a level of control that Photoshop never achieved. Currently, I generate objects and layers directly on the platform, then import the results into Magnific for latent upscaling, and finally, into Minimax to produce a video. To address your question, Blendbox doesn’t quite compare with tools like Topaz or Magnific. Topaz is simply an upscaler, a pioneer but now largely outdated, while Magnific supports text-to-image, style references, and upscaling but lacks control over composition. In Magnific, control is only as precise as the prompt and the model’s ability to interpret it, which has limitations. For example, if I want a cow on the left, a cloud on the right, a character in the center with a bird on their shoulder, a top hat, a left red shoe, and a right blue shoe, some prompt information will likely be lost or elements misplaced. Blendbox’s real power lies in enabling control over an infinite array of elements, allowing you to position and size them precisely as desired, giving you mastery over the composition. This refined version improves clarity, flow, and readability while keeping the original meaning intact. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to adjust!” I invite you to read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g_zXu6mw

16

1 Comment

Do you think high-fidelity VR is still years away? Think again! Max Bickley talks to me about the streaming capabilities of CloudXR today, delivering photorealistic, ray-traced, fully immersive experiences to untethered VR headsets. Watch the full interview 👇 👇 #XR #VR #AR #Spatial #GTC24

29

3 Comments

Ever want to build your own AI-powered projects and tools but don't know where or how to begin? Harry Bloxham showed me the most useful enterprise-ready toolkit for accessing, configuring and running LLMs easily: NVIDIA's AI Workbench. Dig in 💥👇👇

5

We're witnessing the innovations of XR unfold before our very eyes! It’s thrilling to be part of this ever-evolving landscape and see firsthand how XR is transforming training, healthcare, and climate change initiatives. This technology isn’t just for gaming; it’s revolutionizing how we learn and work. Organizations must embrace these changes responsibly to maximize their positive impact on society and leverage innovations to better ourselves. https://lnkd.in/e46S5hWW

16

Instant 3d scenery for a game via text prompt. Probably not enough by itself, but tuning generated structure is easier than writing it all yourself, and you can certainly experiment faster with different concepts. "Once it’s up and running, developers on the hugely popular online game platform will be able to simply write “Generate a race track in the desert,” for example, and the AI will spin one up. Users will also be able to modify scenes or expand their scope—say, to change a daytime scene to night or switch the desert for a forest."

5

Metaverse News 💡 Everyone says Google is unbeatable — but OpenAI's AI Search will be interesting to watch. Also, an immersive Marvel movie and more in my metaverse news roundup🍿 1. Nanoimprint Metalens Array-Based AR: Researchers have developed a novel AR system using nanoimprint metalens arrays, significantly improving imaging performance and enabling broader AR applications in scientific and commercial fields. https://lnkd.in/epwUT6hu 2. Qualcomm's $100M Snapdragon Metaverse Fund: Qualcomm's new investment initiative aims to accelerate metaverse development by funding creators and companies using XR and AI technologies. https://lnkd.in/e-NV_hPT 3.OpenAI's AI Search to Rival Google: OpenAI is developing a new AI-based search engine aimed at challenging Google's dominance in online search. https://lnkd.in/eWQKPVgY 4. Virtual Reality's Impact on Startups: Virtual reality is reshaping how startups operate and innovate, offering immersive tools to create better workflows, collaborative spaces, and novel customer experiences. https://lnkd.in/eT8xsVVj 5. Stanford's Fei-Fei Li Creating 'Spatial Intelligence' Startup: Renowned AI expert Fei-Fei Li is leading a startup focusing on spatial intelligence, aiming to transform the ways machines perceive and interpret the environment. https://lnkd.in/et64ivQP 6.'What If...?' Immersive Story on Apple Vision Pro: Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive have announced a new interactive story exclusively for Apple's Vision Pro, blending cutting-edge technology with storytelling in the Marvel Universe. https://lnkd.in/e27t8cjA 🌟 Follow me for the latest trends at the intersection of metaverse & AI. #Metaverse #TechUpdates #Innovation #VR #AI #TechnologyNews #SmartTech #SpatialComputing #TechTrends #Innovation #GenAI #web3 #AI

7

5 Comments

🚀 Exciting Developments in XR Technology! 🚀 Not having controllers is an exciting problem to solve for many XR creators. It pushes us to think beyond "which button should I use for X?" and instead, focus on the most natural way for users to interact with their hands, while ensuring the headset can recognize those movements. As XR becomes fully adopted, we won’t want to carry controllers everywhere; we'll want seamless interactions through XR glasses. However, some XR activities, like firefighter training, require controllers for interacting with various tools and providing haptic feedback. It’s thrilling to see companies working on controller solutions for Apple headsets, unlocking a new realm of XR content on the AVP. https://lnkd.in/gMXWcQHU #VRTraining #AppleVisionPro #XRDevelopment

4

5 Comments

Just watched Meta's unveiling of the Orion AR glasses at Meta Connect, and I haven't been this excited in a while about a new hardware development immersive tech. This is a huge leap forward for XR. The blend of virtual and real worlds is about to become much more seamless. The slim design, gesture recognition with their unique EMG sensors, and real-time info overlay is bringing AR closer to everyday life. While this device is still a dev kit, as the commercialization progresses, it will mean no more clunky headsets or awkward controllers. #ar #XR #meta #orion

9

1 Comment

Love it or loathe it, Ai Video is exploding right now💥 First Luma AI (out now), then Runway GEN-3 (coming soon)… and finally SORA AI (eventually!) It’s all kicking off. Here are some early tests from Luma’s Dream Machine that I tried over the weekend… (like everybody else, it seems!🤪) and first impressions are that it’s quite impressive. These tests show that this is a step forward in terms of AI generated video and exceeds the limitations you often find with previous video Ai models. It’s by no means perfect, and it still feels very random and hard to control- lots of failed attempts and it’s painfully slow(!) to generate each video - but there’s no doubting the improvements in real-world physics and advanced video generation that it’s capable of achieving. Now we just need to make sure this all lands in the right hands, and is used responsibly, with good intentions, and with creative integrity in mind. Please note: I have only used the free version and due to high demand they are temporarily limiting free tiers to 5 generations per day (down from 10 a couple of days ago!) Paid tiers have priority in the queue and no daily limit.

14

Sharing my session from AWE is now on #YouTube. ❣️There are a ton of videos from XR industry professionals as well so this is your treasure trove if you are interested to learn more about XR. 👾https://lnkd.in/gWRuvBp4

13

1 Comment