The Immersive Lens

Episode 19: ViveCode Challenge & Unboxing

In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave chat with Jenn Carney about AI and education. Then Dave throws down a Vibe Code Challenge. Lastly, Jeff, Pauln The episode kicks off with a critical look at the current state of artificial intelligence in education and media, specifically examining why highly hyped tools like OpenAI's Sora and Khan Academy's Khanmigo are struggling to maintain traction. The hosts and guest Jenn Carney, a biology professor, discuss how these setbacks highlight a crucial missing ingredient in educational tech: genuine human connection and engagement. As AI continues to evolve, understanding what drives actual student interaction is more vital than ever for educators and developers alike. Transitioning from theory to practice, Dave issues a multi-tiered "vibe coding" challenge to Paul, Jenn, and producer Jeff, pushing them to use AI models to build functional web applications without writing traditional code. The episode culminates in an exciting unboxing of the new Galaxy XR headset, an $1,800 mixed-reality collaboration between Google and Samsung. Ultimately, the team demonstrates that whether you are coding by vibes or exploring spatial computing, the future of emerging tech relies heavily on lowering barriers to entry for everyday users. What to know about the Sora discontinuationhttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001152-what-to-know-about-the-sora-discontinuation [https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001152-what-to-know-about-the-sora-discontinuation] The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring beloved characters from across Disney’s brands to Sorahttps://openai.com/index/disney-sora-agreement/ [https://openai.com/index/disney-sora-agreement/] Khan Academy’s founder says AI tutoring revolution hasn't come for education, yethttps://www.boston25news.com/news/khan-academyrsquos/2UFWOVJK2AZLRJFD5YZVO36IPQ/ [https://www.boston25news.com/news/khan-academyrsquos/2UFWOVJK2AZLRJFD5YZVO36IPQ/] AACC Conferencehttps://www.campusworksinc.com/american-association-of-community-colleges-aacc/ [https://www.campusworksinc.com/american-association-of-community-colleges-aacc/] The Gum Wallhttps://www.pikeplacemarket.org/vendor/the-gum-wall/ [https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/vendor/the-gum-wall/] The Crumpet Shophttps://thecrumpetshop.com/ [https://thecrumpetshop.com/] AACC Presentation - Innovation [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fbrCJzqqzfny5oopOKfJRwJwqfnmr--m1w3QARkcJmw/edit?slide=id.g3d4c0956059_0_0#slide=id.g3d4c0956059_0_0]https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fbrCJzqqzfny5oopOKfJRwJwqfnmr--m1w3QARkcJmw/ [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fbrCJzqqzfny5oopOKfJRwJwqfnmr--m1w3QARkcJmw/] AACC Presentation - AI Challenge [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tUUAmdbrc1F5f1gpOXcuXxP3WJAVm5k4YVQnJ6zkKQQ/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p]https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tUUAmdbrc1F5f1gpOXcuXxP3WJAVm5k4YVQnJ6zkKQQ/ [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tUUAmdbrc1F5f1gpOXcuXxP3WJAVm5k4YVQnJ6zkKQQ/] The AI Challengehttps://www.theimmersivelens.com/p/vibe-coding-challenge.html [https://www.theimmersivelens.com/p/vibe-coding-challenge.html] Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI clone of himself. Most people just need help with their inboxhttps://fortune.com/2026/04/28/technology-ai-agents-three-person-unicorns-zuckerberg-clone-future-of-work/ [https://fortune.com/2026/04/28/technology-ai-agents-three-person-unicorns-zuckerberg-clone-future-of-work/] Samsung Galaxy XR Headsethttps://www.samsung.com/us/xr/galaxy-xr/galaxy-xr/ [https://www.samsung.com/us/xr/galaxy-xr/galaxy-xr/] Google's XR Gemini Extension Lets You "Vibe Code" WebXR Experiences In Secondshttps://www.uploadvr.com/google-vibe-coding-xr-gemini-extension-webxr/ [https://www.uploadvr.com/google-vibe-coding-xr-gemini-extension-webxr/] WebXRhttps://immersiveweb.dev/ [https://immersiveweb.dev/] Mentions: @MIT @Apple @Samsung @Meta @Android @Google FLX AI Hub: http://www.flcc.eduhttps://www.flcc.edu/ai/ [https://www.flcc.edu/ai/] FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ [https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/] 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #ImmersiveLens #VibeCoding #GalaxyXR #AIinEducation #EdTech #MixedReality #SpatialComputing #NoCode #TechPodcast #FutureOfLearning #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends  #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #XR #extrendedReality ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ [https://www.flcc.edu/] https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ [https://www.theimmersivelens.com/] Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

Episode 18: The Educators Journey

Welcome to The Immersive Lens - the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn - from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave talk with Paige LaBarr about education, AI, and emerging tech. As AI transitions from a novelty to an everyday utility, the conversation shifts from what the technology is to how it seamlessly integrates into our workflows and classrooms. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, the focus is squarely on practical AI adoption and the idea that this technology lowers the floor for entry while raising the ceiling for innovation. From streamlining lesson planning and auto-editing video disfluencies to analyzing massive spreadsheets in seconds, practical AI is changing how professionals and students tackle daily challenges, making specialized knowledge more accessible than ever before. Joined by FLCC Assistant Professor Paige LaBarr, the trio concludes that mastering AI isn't about replacing human expertise, but rather augmenting it. The ultimate verdict is that curiosity and hands-on experimentation are key; whether identifying a rare bird or coding an application from scratch, leveraging AI effectively still requires a human in the loop to guide the prompts and validate the results. FLX AI Hub: http://www.flcc.eduhttps://www.flcc.edu/ai/ [https://www.flcc.edu/ai/] FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ [https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/] 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #ArtificialIntelligence #VibeCoding #EdTech #GaussianSplatting #TechPodcast #FutureOfLearning #SpatialComputing #PromptEngineering #TheImmersiveLens #TechTrends #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends  #TechHistory #UXDesign #FutureOfWork #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ [https://www.flcc.edu/] https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ [https://www.theimmersivelens.com/] Stay curious. Stay connected. Topics Covered:🗒 Summary Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

Episode 17: Outliers

🗒 Summary This episode dives into the rapidly shifting landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs), moving beyond the "Big Three" to examine the specialized tools carving out their own niches. From the enterprise-ready integration of Microsoft Copilot to the citation-heavy search capabilities of Perplexity, the hosts analyze why these "outlier" models are essential for specific workflows in 3D design, coding, and academic research. The conversation also touches on the tactile world of 3D printing and the legal pressures currently facing social media giants over user safety. Paul and Dave weigh the practical benefits of these platforms against significant ethical and legal hurdles, including recent high-profile lawsuits involving Meta and YouTube regarding negligence and mental health. They provide a unique look at the "LLM Arena" rankings and discuss the trade-offs between closed-system reliability and the raw, uncurated power of open-source models. Ultimately, they conclude that while the tech is advancing toward a "No UI" future driven by voice and intent, the winner of the AI race will be determined by which model can most seamlessly integrate into our daily digital lives. 🔗 Links & Resources: OpenAI’s Sora shutting down: When it happens, 2 AI video alternatives [https://mashable.com/article/openai-sora-shut-down-when-happens-alternatives]  https://mashable.com/article/openai-sora-shut-down-when-happens-alternatives [https://mashable.com/article/openai-sora-shut-down-when-happens-alternatives] Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict]  https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict] New Mexico jury says Meta harms children's mental health and safety, violating state law [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/g-s1-115019/new-mexico-meta-children-mental-health]  https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/g-s1-115019/new-mexico-meta-children-mental-health [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/g-s1-115019/new-mexico-meta-children-mental-health] LLM Arena (Arena.AI) [http://arena.ai]https://arena.ai/ [https://arena.ai/] NAAIC Conference [https://www.naaic.ai/naaic-ai-summit-2026] https://www.naaic.ai/naaic-ai-summit-2026 [https://www.naaic.ai/naaic-ai-summit-2026] Microsoft Copilot [https://copilot.microsoft.com/] https://copilot.microsoft.com/ [https://copilot.microsoft.com/] Perplexity [https://www.perplexity.ai/] https://www.perplexity.ai/ [https://www.perplexity.ai/] Comet: Perplexity's Browser [https://www.perplexity.ai/comet] https://www.perplexity.ai/comet [https://www.perplexity.ai/comet] Amazon wins court order to block Perplexity’s AI shopping agent [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/amazon-wins-court-order-to-block-perplexitys-ai-shopping-agent.html] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/amazon-wins-court-order-to-block-perplexitys-ai-shopping-agent.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/amazon-wins-court-order-to-block-perplexitys-ai-shopping-agent.html] What is LLM Temperature? [https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/llm-temperature] https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/llm-temperature [https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/llm-temperature] Grokhttps://grok.com/ [https://grok.com/] Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, started calling itself 'MechaHitler' [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5462609/grok-elon-musk-antisemitic-racist-content] https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5462609/grok-elon-musk-antisemitic-racist-content [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5462609/grok-elon-musk-antisemitic-racist-content] Elon Musk's X faces bans and investigations over nonconsensual bikini images [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/12/nx-s1-5672579/grok-women-children-bikini-elon-musk] https://www.npr.org/2026/01/12/nx-s1-5672579/grok-women-children-bikini-elon-musk [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/12/nx-s1-5672579/grok-women-children-bikini-elon-musk] Grok 4 is using Elon Musk's X posts as a source when answering questions [https://mashable.com/article/grok-4-elon-musk-source-reference] https://mashable.com/article/grok-4-elon-musk-source-reference [https://mashable.com/article/grok-4-elon-musk-source-reference] DeepSeek [https://www.deepseek.com/en/] https://www.deepseek.com/en/ [https://www.deepseek.com/en/] DeepSeek efficiencies [https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1011.htm#:~:text=Leo%3A%20All%20right.%20On%20we%20go.%20Let%27s%20talk%20DeepSeek] https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1011.htm#:~:text=Leo%3A%20All%20right.%20On%20we%20go.%20Let%27s%20talk%20DeepSeek. [https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1011.htm#:~:text=Leo%3A%20All%20right.%20On%20we%20go.%20Let%27s%20talk%20DeepSeek] AI firm DeepSeek writes less-secure code for groups China disfavors [https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/16/deepseek-ai-security/] AI firm DeepSeek writes less secure code for groups China disfavors - The Washington Post [https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/16/deepseek-ai-security/] Mentions: @MIT @Apple @Samsung @Meta @Android @Google FLX AI Hub: http://www.flcc.eduhttps://www.flcc.edu/ai/ [https://www.flcc.edu/ai/] FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ [https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/] 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #FrontierModels #VibeCoding #NoUI #TechTrends #TheImmersiveLens #LLM #MicrosoftCopilot #PerplexityAI #FutureOfTech #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends  #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ [https://www.flcc.edu/] https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ [https://www.theimmersivelens.com/] Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

Episode 16: Gemini

This episode explores the multifaceted world of Google Gemini, Google's rebranded and significantly advanced large language model. The hosts delve into Gemini's three primary modes - Fast, Thinking, and Pro - each tailored to different user needs, from quick queries to complex problem-solving. They also highlight Gemini's seamless integration into the Google ecosystem, including Google Docs, Gmail, and Chrome, making it a ubiquitous assistant for everyday tasks. Beyond simple chat, the discussion covers specialized tools like NotebookLM for research, AI Studio for developers, and creative powerhouses like VEO and flow for video and image generation. Paul and Dave bring their unique tech-savvy perspectives to the table, discussing their personal experiences and preferences between Gemini and other AI models like ChatGPT and Claude. They emphasize the importance of Gemini's low barrier to entry and its "vertical integration" within the Google suite as major competitive advantages. The episode concludes with a positive outlook, portraying Gemini not just as a chatbot but as a comprehensive platform that is continuously expanding its capabilities and redefining human-AI interaction. 🔗 Links & Resources: 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards: Full List Of Winners [https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-03-16-2026-iheartpodcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/] https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-03-16-2026-iheartpodcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ [https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-03-16-2026-iheartpodcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/] Scaniverse - Apple App Store [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scaniverse-3d-scanner/id1541433223] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scaniverse-3d-scanner/id1541433223 [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scaniverse-3d-scanner/id1541433223] Scaniverse - Android Play Store [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nianticlabs.scaniverse&hl=en_US] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nianticlabs.scaniverse&hl=en_US [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nianticlabs.scaniverse&hl=en_US] More! More! More! Tech Workers Max Out Their A.I. Use. [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/technology/tokenmaxxing-ai-agents.html] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/technology/tokenmaxxing-ai-agents.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/technology/tokenmaxxing-ai-agents.html] FLX AI Hub Community Convening [https://www.flcc.edu/events/all-events/2026/june/flx-ai-hub-community-convening.php] https://www.flcc.edu/events/all-events/2026/june/flx-ai-hub-community-convening.php [https://www.flcc.edu/events/all-events/2026/june/flx-ai-hub-community-convening.php] Font Psychology: Why Fonts Matter and How They Influence Consumer Behavior [https://www.amazon.com/Font-Psychology-Influence-Consumer-Behavior-ebook/dp/B09JCD1WVW] https://www.amazon.com/Font-Psychology-Influence-Consumer-Behavior-ebook/dp/B09JCD1WVW [https://www.amazon.com/Font-Psychology-Influence-Consumer-Behavior-ebook/dp/B09JCD1WVW] Google Gemini [https://gemini.google.com/] https://gemini.google.com/ [https://gemini.google.com/] AI Studio [https://aistudio.google.com/prompts/new_chat] https://aistudio.google.com/prompts/new_chat [https://aistudio.google.com/prompts/new_chat] Firebase [https://firebase.google.com/] https://firebase.google.com/ [https://firebase.google.com/] Antigravity [https://antigravity.google/] https://antigravity.google/ [https://antigravity.google/] Google Flow [https://labs.google/fx/tools/flow] https://labs.google/fx/tools/flow [https://labs.google/fx/tools/flow] DeepMind [http://deepmind.google.com] deepmind.google.com [http://deepmind.google.com] DeepMind - AlphaFold - Nobel Prize [https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/press-release/] https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/press-release/ [https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/press-release/] Google Stitch [https://stitch.withgoogle.com/] https://stitch.withgoogle.com/ [https://stitch.withgoogle.com/] Google's Opal [https://opal.google/] https://opal.google/ [https://opal.google/] Mentions: @MIT @Apple @Samsung @Meta @Android @Google FLX AI Hub: http://www.flcc.eduhttps://www.flcc.edu/ai/ [https://www.flcc.edu/ai/] FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ [https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/] 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #edtech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

Episode 15: Claude

In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul Engin and Dave Ghidiu explore the rapid expansion of the Claude AI ecosystem. They break down how Anthropic is moving beyond simple chat interfaces to create a comprehensive suite of productivity tools - including Projects, Artifacts, and Co-work - designed to transform AI from a basic prompter into a true collaborative partner. The discussion highlights how these features allow for deeper context retention and specialized "skills," making AI more intuitive for complex tasks like software development and course design.Paul and Dave share their personal workflows, contrasting Claude’s "warmer" and more nuanced persona with other giants like Gemini and ChatGPT. While they celebrate the creative freedom offered by tools like Artifacts, they remain grounded, discussing the practicalities of token limits, the "equity gap" in paid tiers, and the critical importance of data privacy in an increasingly automated world. The episode concludes with a forward-looking verdict: AI is rapidly evolving into a seamless, agent-based operating system that will soon be woven into every facet of our digital lives.🔗 Links & Resources:Polymarkethttps://polymarket.com/Kalshihttps://kalshi.com/Meta Glasseshttps://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/shop-all/Meta Acquires Moltbook, the Social Network Just for A.I. Botshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/technology/meta-moltbook-social-ai-bots.htmlClaudehttps://claude.ai/EKG Simulator/trainerhttps://inlineteaching.com/medical/ekgImport and export your memory from Claudehttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/12123587-import-and-export-your-memory-from-claudeWhat are projects?https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9517075-what-are-projectsExtend Claude with skillshttps://code.claude.com/docs/en/skillsWhat are artifacts and how do I use them?https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-theminfo@theimmersivelens.comClaude Code overviewhttps://code.claude.com/docs/en/overviewFLCC's Vibe Coding Coursehttps://www.flcc.edu/courses/csc-145/Claude Cowork by Anthropichttps://www.anthropic.com/product/claude-coworkMentions: @MIT @Apple @Samsung @Meta @Android @GoogleFLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/#ai #claudeai #anthropic #futuretech #vibecoding #spatialcomputing #machinelearning #techpodcast #productivityhacks #ImmersiveLens #edtech #generativeai #highered #podcast #sora2 #vibecoding #digitalethics #flcc #newmedia #techtrends #techhistory #uxdesign #webdevelopment #projecticeberg #futureofwork #screentime #foldablephones #visionpro #TheImmersiveLens #edtech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education.Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region.https://www.flcc.edu/https://www.theimmersivelens.com/Stay curious. Stay connected.Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.