About this episode
As VR technology inches forward, completely new experiences loom on the horizon. In today’s episode, we expose listeners to the very real-world use cases already present on these devices, from fitness to education. First up is Gym Class VR, one of the top-rated apps on the Quest. Cofounder, Paul Katsen, shows us how to dribble and dunk in the metaverse, but more importantly, discusses the social impact of VR, the technological prerequisites to get there, and the role of AI as we progress. Following on is a founder on a mission to revolutionize education. Anurupa Ganguly from Prisms VR, explores how virtual reality has the potential to close the gap – one where 70% of US 8th graders are not proficient in foundational math. Head over to our YouTube channel to see two a16z Podcast firsts: a full interview in VR, and host Steph slam dunking on an NBA court. Topics Covered: 00:00 - The current state of VR 03:38 - How do you build the #1 VR app? 05:56 - How will VR become an everyday activity? 07:37 - The social and the technical arc of VR 11:47 - Untapped opportunities in VR 13:24 - Integrating AI into VR 17:09 - Prisms VR 20:10 - Why it’s critical to fix America’s math problem 21:12 - Why put VR in classrooms now? 23:23 - The successes of VR in the classroom 26:03 - Stats from the impact report 27:44 - Other curriculums could benefit from VR 31:04 - Opportunities for AI in VR Resources: Find Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pavtalk Learn more about Gym Class: https://www.gymclassvr.com Find Gym Class in Meta Quest: https://www.meta.com/experiences/3661420607275144/ Find Anurupa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anurupa-ganguly-92790379 Learn more about Prisms VR: https://www.prismsvr.com Stay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated: Find a16z on X Find a16z on LinkedIn Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.