OpenAI comes under fire, Backflip 3D raises $30M, Gemini AI goes to XR

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok’s challenge to a law banning the popular short-form video app, setting the stage for an important First Amendment review. TikTok and civil rights groups say the platform’s ban violates free speech rights and unfairly targets certain outlets. Supporters of the law say it is necessary for national security and to protect users’ personal data from foreign adversaries. The court’s decision in this case signals increased judicial interest in policing online platforms and their content. The ruling could decide the balance between digital freedom, government regulation and global security. I think social media platforms should be regulated. The entire industry is an unregulated swamp of horrific crimes, fake news, and conspiracy theories created for people who are “doing their own research.” Come on, let’s ban Tik Tok. However, I don’t think the problem will be solved even if TikTok disappears and metapolicing itself becomes a problem.

Mehta joins Musk in open AI lawsuit, challenging transition to for-profit enterprise. These days, it appears that Musk and Zuckerberg have more in common than a battle for siege. Both support Trump (lower taxes, no regulation, bigger government contracts, etc.) and are proving to be the enemy of each other by going after the startup OpenAI. That’s your friend. In his letter, Meta accused OpenAI of breaking its original philanthropic promises, claiming the company raised large sums of tax-free money by promising to prioritize the public interest. Mehta said allowing them to make a profit would set a dangerous precedent and encourage other companies to abuse their nonprofit status and pivot when they become profitable. Meta supports Elon Musk’s fight against OpenAI, noting Musk’s early involvement and understanding of the original mission. Meta believes that OpenAI needs to stick to its nonprofit roots to protect both investors and public trust.

Backflip 3D Gen-AI startup launches from stealth with $30 million. Founded by repeat entrepreneurs behind Markforged, Backflip aims to fundamentally accelerate the way products are designed and built. Proprietary AI models can generate photorealistic 3D printable objects from text descriptions and images, helping designers and engineers work much faster than traditional CAD software. NEA and Andreessen Horowitz led the round, with angel investors including Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott and LinkedIn co-founder Rich Miner. Backflip’s technology dramatically shortens the design-to-manufacturing pipeline, allowing anyone to create complex, high-resolution 3D models in minutes. The company believes its tools will revitalize American manufacturing, strengthen national security and spark a new era of widespread innovation.

Samsung and Google are likely to incorporate Google’s Gemini AI technology into the Android XR OS to enhance AR/VR capabilities and provide more natural interactions. The XR headset is likely to be Android-based, leveraging Samsung’s established supply chain and Google’s software expertise. The partnership, scheduled for release in 2025, reflects increased competition in the immersive technology space as tech giants race to deliver more powerful AI-driven experiences to consumers around the world. .

Meta faces a strategic dilemma in moving from Google’s Android to its own Horizon OS for future AR/VR devices. The company’s current XR headsets rely heavily on a modified Android platform, but Meta wants more control over its ecosystem. Building Horizon OS from the ground up promises deeper integration, better performance, and tighter user data processing. However, developing a full-fledged operating system is complex, time-consuming, and risky. Android offers stability, widespread developer familiarity, and easy updateability. Meta’s long-term vision includes creating unique XR experiences leveraging Horizon OS, but striking the right balance between independence and practicality remains a major challenge.

Google has announced Veo 2, its latest AI-powered video generator that is claimed to outperform existing systems in audience rating tests. Veo 2, the successor to the SORA model, allows users to create complex multi-scene videos with improved consistency, quality, and thematic coherence. According to Google’s internal ratings and user research, Veo 2 achieves higher audience satisfaction scores than previous versions. The system uses advanced diffusion technology and incorporates human feedback to improve results and aim to streamline production for creators and marketing teams. Although Veo 2 is still in the early stages of research, it demonstrates Google’s ambitions for automatic content generation and advanced generative AI tools.

Party Versus is a new mixed reality party game for Quest 3 that blends virtual objects and interactions with real-world spaces. Designed for local multiplayer, friends can gather around one headset and take turns watching mixed reality gameplay through the device’s color passthrough. The game transforms an ordinary room into a playful arena, fusing digital and physical elements for a unique social experience that combines the fun of immersive VR with in-person interaction.

This column, formerly known as “This Week in XR,” is co-authored by Charlie Fink, former studio executive and co-founder of Red Camera, Ted Shirowicz, and founder of Magic Leap. It’s also a podcast hosted by Ronnie Abovitz. This week’s guest is Shelley Palmer, CEO of Palmer Group. You can find us on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.

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