Kent Bye (Voices of VR)
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kentbye.com
Kent Bye (Voices of VR)
@kentbye.com
3.7K followers 910 following 330 posts
Voices of VR Podcast host: Insatiably curious, XR oral historian, & aspiring philosopher.
Exploring Tech Ethics, AI, XR, & Emerging Tech.
Patreon at http://patreon.com/voicesofvr
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kentbye.com
I interviewed the one and only DrMorro! His ORGANISM trilogy, RITUAL, & OLYMPIA #VRChat worlds are incredibly surreal mash-ups of vast architecture and symbols. We talk about his whole body of work, key inspirations, & some clues to hidden meanings. voicesofvr.com/1681-vrchat-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:46 PM
kentbye.com
Are we going to see a fifth issue this week? You did tempt the fates…
“We’ll be back Monday with our regular coverage of the Supreme Court. Usually, I’d include an “(if not sooner)” parenthetical in that sentence, but I’m going to tempt fate and say four posts in a week is enough.”
November 7, 2025 at 11:57 PM
kentbye.com
@lillywachowski.bsky.social Did you get a chance to see The Matrix at Cosm with extended reality additions in their dome beyond the frame? I was surprised to see how well it was able to amplify key moments without being a distraction. Also hits so many zeitgeist streams that feel so relevant today.
The Matrix at Cosm Screen extensions for the Matrix at Cosm Another screen extension shot of The Matrix at Cosm Seeing code extended beyond the frame at Cosm.
October 22, 2025 at 8:53 PM
kentbye.com
I published 41 interviews from 2018 to 2025 on the Voices of VR covering Augmented World Expo Past & Present. I cover XR & AI like a hyperobject over space & time through the modality of oral history, and this series is 24.5 hours long spanning lots of topics. See my cheat sheet with tags & metadata
List of interviews in a 41-episode series on AWE Past and Present.
August 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
kentbye.com
The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater in Portland is adding in elements of participation, community-building, & immersion to the cinematic tradition. I spoke with Amy Dotson about their 25 unique events a month & expanding @portlandartmuseum.bsky.social for more immersive art.
voicesofvr.com/1564-adding-...
May 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM
kentbye.com
Hey @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social, I thought you would enjoy this Trials of Henry Kissinger blast from the past circa September 25th, 2002 when it was playing at Film Forum. My recollection was I was in NYC at a PBS gathering where you were speaking on a panel there. Keep up all of your great work!
The Trials of Henry Kissinger movie postcard with Kissinger shown in the style of Andy Warhol. Back of post card has reviews of The Trials of Henry Kissinger documentary: "A MUST SEE!" -Film Comment, Time Out NY Is Henry Kissinger - Nobel Laureate and the most famous diplomat of his generation - also a war criminal? Confronting the charges that Kissinger undermined LBJ's Vietnam peace talks, engineered the secret bombing of Cambodia, helped create the coup that toppled Chilean President Allende, and approved Indonesia's use of U.S. arms to massacre 100,000 East Timorese, the film plumbs the depth of one man's soul, as it questions basic tenets of international law. “[4 stars] EXHILARATING!" -John Anderson, "Devastating!" -Stephen Holden, The New York Times "An exposé of the corrosiveness of power!" -David Denby, The New Yorker "Mass murderer or pragmatist: You make the call." -Chris Chang, Film Comment NOW PLAYING FILM FORUM (212) 727-8110 WEST HOUSTON (WEST OF 6TH AVE) SHOWTIMES 1:05, 2:45, 4:25, 6:05, 8, 10 BUY TICKETS ONLINE www.filmforum.com First Run Features 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014 (212) 243-0600 visit www.firstrunfeatures.com
May 17, 2025 at 8:07 PM
kentbye.com
I chatted with @bonjourphi.bsky.social & @weareagog.bsky.social about their PHI Immersive: XR for Impact artist residency. Deadline is June 24. This is a #sponsored episode that also includes some pitching best practices & general advice for artists, & Agog updates.
voicesofvr.com/1561-phi-and...
PHI Residencies. PHI Immersive: XR for Impact Residency
May 7, 2025 at 5:04 PM
kentbye.com
Boasberg: "probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt." Trump is stress testing checks and balances of democracy: "The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it."
Passage from Judge Boasberg's Memorandum Opinion from April 16, 2025: "The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it. To permit such officials to freely “annul the judgments of the courts of the United States” would not just “destroy the rights acquired under those judgments”; it would make “a solemn mockery” of “the constitution itself.” United States v. Peters, 9 U.S. (5 Cranch) 115, 136 (1809) (Marshall, C.J.). “So fatal a result must be deprecated by all.” Id"
April 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
kentbye.com
Wynn-Williams pointed to Meta's SEC filing declaring >$18B Chinese revenue. Meta says, "we generate meaningful revenue from a small number of resellers serving advertisers based in China." She claimed Meta was selling Quests in China but Reality Labs geo isn't broken down
www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
Meta's 2024 Form 10-K SEC filing that has a note that "China revenue was $18.35 billion, $13.69 billion, and $7.40 billion for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively."
April 9, 2025 at 9:59 PM
kentbye.com
Just watched Sarah Wynn-Williams speak for the first time about her explosive claims in her book "Careless People" about Meta's secret cooperation with the CCP party in China. Meta got an emergency ruling from an arbitrator preventing her from promoting her book, & her first statements start at 42m.
Ms. Sarah Wynn-Williams testifying in front the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary on April 9, 2025
April 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
kentbye.com
I spoke with athlete Ant Williams to get a behind-the-scenes on the Apple Immersive Video capturing his world record attempt of swimming 182m under ice. He shares how he overcomes his fears, uncertainty, & self-doubt via “positive, calculated risk-taking challenges.”
voicesofvr.com/1557-apple-i...
Ice freediver Ant Williams swimming under ice for 182 meters in a world record attempt, which is featured in an "Adventure" series Apple Immersive Video
April 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM
kentbye.com
Check out my latest article: Recap of All SXSW XR Experiences Including Voices of VR Podcast Interviews with Every Artist www.linkedin.com/pulse/recap-...
grid of 25 images representing different XR experiences curated at SXSW 2025
March 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM
kentbye.com
In the the final phase of producing over 20 hours of Voices of VR podcast interviews featuring 26 artists from the SXSW XR Experience Competition and Spotlight. With a dozen interviews published previously, then I managed to speak with every artist in this year's selection. Publishing later today.
List of 26 interviews for the Voices of VR podcast featuring artists featured at SXSW XR Experience Competition and Spotlight
March 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
kentbye.com
I’m thinking more about the ethics of training AI on an artist’s work without their consent or legal copyright permission, and then commodifying that art style in a LLM to then having institutions of power posting images like this.
White House post from March 27th using the Studio Ghibli style
March 27, 2025 at 11:36 PM
kentbye.com
During SXSW I got an early look at the Apple Immersive Metallica concert that’s coming out tomorrow. Bottom line is made me motion sick after 26 minutes of persistent triggers. I’m sure fans will still love it, & I probably would have enjoyed it more if I were a fan
www.linkedin.com/posts/kentby...
Apple Immersive Metallica concert experience.
March 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
kentbye.com
Here are my personal reactions to the XR experiences & stories at #SXSW w length & capacity estimations for how difficult it may be to get in to different experiences.
I don’t always agree with ranking art, because every story has meaning & value independent of what I think. These are my opinions.
1 In the Current of Being 2 Face Jumping 3 Currents 4 Shelter 5 Traces: The Grief Processor 6 The Art of Change 7 All I Know About Teacher Li 8 The Choice - Chapters 2 and 3 9 Any War Any Enemy 10 A Number From the Ghost 11 Proof As If Proof Were Needed 12 Oto's Planet 13 Ancestors 14 Uncanny Alley: A New Day 15 Symphoni 16 EchoVision 17 Future Botanica 18 Just for You Trilogy 19 Ways of Knowing: A Navajo Nuclear History 20 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre 21 Honey Fungus 22 Address Unknown: Fukushima Now 23 Fly To You 24 Reflections of Little Red Dot 25 The Secret Life of Monsters - The Gateway Experience 26 Origins - Life's Epic Journey 26 Sweet! 27 Anouschka 28 Cosmos in Focus 29 Resolution: A Cinephonic Rhapsody for the Soul Tech glitch The Last Practice
March 9, 2025 at 1:52 PM
kentbye.com
I understand there are more charitable interpretations for what’s happening with Meta & OpenXR. #1. I wish Meta would make some public statements making that case (they haven’t). #2 Bucchianeri & Godin have been making specific claims about what they’re doing. See:
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Matthieu Bucchianeri comment from LinkedIn (part 1/3) Khronos is not accountable for the incompetence/negligence of Meta (pick the one your prefer) in this matter. However Khronos' mission is to create and promote a standard that fulfills a particular mission. They are accountable for the success of this mission. When a member of the group (Meta) is deliberately taking steps that go against this mission and endanger its success, then Khronos must take action. As I explained in my technical breakdown, Meta is undoing the work of many players in the OpenXR group. They are literally throwing in the garbage can work that you and I have done in the last few years to make OpenXR a successful standard for the industry. Meta being a leader in the industry, they have the responsibility to set an example for others. I'm not even going to go over the fact that the current chairman of the OpenXR workgroup is an employee of Meta. Matthieu Bucchianeri comment from LinkedIn (part 2.1/3) When the OpenXR workgroup is telling developers to not use the runtimeName in making compatibility decisions for their applications, Meta should comply and show the world how to do it, leading by example. Instead of that, one of the first line of code in their plugin goes completely against the message that OpenXR and its members have crafted. When the OpenXR workgroup is telling vendors and developers that the choice of the runtime to use shall be left to the end-user, Meta should support that message and give its millions of users the choice. Instead of that, Meta is forcing users to pick their Quest Link runtime by deteriorating the experience of the users of other runtimes. Matthieu Bucchianeri comment from LinkedIn (part 2.2/3) When the OpenXR workgroup literally posts on their website a quote from the chairman of OpenXR "applications can be quickly retargeted to new platforms, or even run on new platforms unmodified. This lowers the cost of entry [...]", Meta (the author of this quote) should embrace this goal and enable it universally. Instead of that, Meta precludes several applications built with two of the biggest game engines from using OpenXR on other platforms.  Matthieu Bucchianeri comment from LinkedIn (part 3/3) Bluntly put Bastiaan - enough with the hypocrisy here between Meta and Khronos. Meta clearly does not care about the mission of OpenXR, to create a cross-platform and cross-vendor standard. If they did, they would spend a few days fixing their plugin to make it work on other platforms. Valve spent time creating a compatibility mode in their runtime. I spent time finding, documenting and countering OVRPlugin's "beginner-grade" bugs in my runtime. The only entities who haven't done anything but meaningless talk about this issue are Meta and Khronos (broken promises in 2024 that had absolutely no follow-up from them). Change needs to happen and the leadership of the group needs to kick that off. They didn't want to listen to me, maybe they will listen if other developers chime in.
March 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
kentbye.com
"The Unitary Executive Runs Amok" Substack post by @stevevladeck.bsky.social says, "even the most aggressive academic and judicial proponents of the unitary executive theory have never argued for the amount of power Trump is claiming."😬
www.stevevladeck.com/p/bonus-121-...
h/t @rparloff.bsky.social
Paragraph from Steve Vladeck's Substack post that says, "To be sure, even the most aggressive academic and judicial proponents of the unitary executive theory have never argued for the amount of power Trump is claiming—from the power to impound funds Congress has appropriated to the power to shutter agencies Congress has created to the power to fire anyone within the executive branch who isn’t sufficiently loyal to the President. To be as blunt as possible, there are no Supreme Court decisions that support those assertions of power, nor do they even logically follow from any plausible reading of the “unitary executive” theory. These assertions are already faring poorly in the courts, and I suspect the Supreme Court, or at least a majority thereof, will be as skeptical as lower courts have been."
February 8, 2025 at 4:20 AM
kentbye.com
You're welcome! This wiki page gives a lot more context for who influenced Yarvin's neoreactionary thinking. handwiki.org/wiki/Biograp...

And here's his 2012 How to Reboot the US Government talk where he talks about how the US needs to get over our "dictator phobia":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZluM...
Excerpt from HandWiki biography of Curtis Yarvin and his influences: "Neo-reactionary blogging: Yarvin's reading of Thomas Carlyle convinced him that libertarianism was a doomed project without the inclusion of authoritarianism, and Hans-Hermann Hoppe's 2001 book Democracy: The God That Failed marked Yarvin's first break with democracy. Another of his influences was James Burnham, who thought that "Real" politics occurred through the actions and power manipulation of the elites, beneath what he called apparent democratic or socialist rhetoric.[31] In the 2000s, the failures of US-led nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan strengthened Yarvin's anti-democratic views, the federal response to the 2008 financial crisis strengthened his libertarian convictions, and Barack Obama's election as US president reinforced his belief that history inevitably progresses toward left-leaning societies.[32]"
February 6, 2025 at 12:11 AM
kentbye.com
This doc looks really amazing!
The SXSW page shows that it's being represented by John Sloss and Cinetic Media, which is the most renowned films sales/PR team.
schedule.sxsw.com/2025/films/2...

Their About page has more info on who will be interviewed: www.theageofdisclosure.com/about-the-film
Amongst those featured in the landmark film are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lue Elizondo (former Department of Defense official, member of the Government’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, aka AATIP), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Mike Rounds, Jay Stratton (former DIA official, Director of the Government’s UAP Task Force), General Jim Clapper (former Director of National Intelligence), Mike Gold (NASA UAP Study Team member), Admiral Tim Gallaudet (Former Navy Chief Oceanographer), Brett Feddersen (former Director of Aviation Security on the White House’s National Security Council), Jim Semivan (former senior CIA official), Representative Carson, Mike Gallagher (former Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party), Christopher Mellon (former Department of Defense official), senior scientist from multiple Government UAP programs such as Dr. Garry Nolan, quantum physicist Hal Puthoff Ph.D., astrophysicist Eric Davis Ph.D., military eye-witnesses of UAP events over U.S. military bases, and more.
January 22, 2025 at 10:27 PM
kentbye.com
My first thought was that it looks like force-feedback haptic gloves for VR, but I looked it up and it's not.
January 20, 2025 at 10:24 PM
kentbye.com
Knowledge comes from believing truths & avoiding falsehoods, but these are two separate algorithms that require a dialectical process. It's the core of the Socratic Method as expertly elaborated by @agcallard.bsky.social in her new book "Open Socrates." Our deep dive: voicesofvr.com/1518-the-soc...
Book cover for "Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life" by Agnes Callard
January 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
kentbye.com
@taylorlorenz.bsky.social I saw you lamenting the loss of your favorite Instagram filter. Meta killed off Spark AR & never announced a replacement, which is odd considering how much they’ve invested in a broader XR strategy. Creators suspect they’re more interested in AI slop. Here’s some comments:
Instagram story from @emmasofija “As an AR creator, I can confirm that Meta has deleted all Instagram filters made by creators like me, who never earned a cent from our billions of views. Why? They're investing in other priorities such as AI. A huge slap in the face to the Meta Spark/AR creator community.” Blog post from Meta “Why is Meta Spark going away?” “After thorough consideration, it was determined that Meta will prioritize investments in other company priorities. As a result, we're not able to continue to support the Meta Spark platform long term.” @paigepiskin’s Instagram photos saying “My Filters Are Leaving Insta + FB” Stats from Page Piskin’s AR filters “66 billion views 10 billion opens 2 billion captures 319M video calls”
January 18, 2025 at 6:51 AM
kentbye.com
Pretty comprehensive survey by @freya.bsky.social of how Generative AI is polluting Google and Bing search results with around 80% content about *.glb files being AI slop. Lots of deep thoughts on GenAI being a parasitic cancer erasing humanity & ruining the Internet:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opB...
Freya found that 80% of search results from Bing and Google on *.glb files were generated by AI
January 3, 2025 at 1:44 AM
kentbye.com
Very much enjoyed your short video for the VRChat NYE stream. Gave me a good laugh. The copium is REAL!
screenshot from Virtual News Network VRChat NYE video of SadlyItsBradly breaching Valve (Faucet HQ) screenshot #2 from Virtual News Network VRChat NYE video of SadlyItsBradly breaching Valve (Faucet HQ) Live Look screenshot #3 from Virtual News Network VRChat NYE video of SadlyItsBradly breaching Valve (Faucet HQ). Perpetrator captured? screenshot #4 from Virtual News Network VRChat NYE video of SadlyItsBradly breaching Valve (Faucet HQ). Horrors beyond human comprehension.
December 31, 2024 at 9:02 PM