Agenda

The following agenda is subject to change. Additional speakers to be announced.

9:30 AM

Registration Opens

10:00 AM

Welcome Remarks

10:10 AM

Keynote Remarks

10:30 AM

Panel #1: U.S. and Global Perspectives on Nurturing the Immersive Tech Ecosystem

As immersive technology becomes a fundamental tool utilized across industry sectors including manufacturing, urban planning, national defense and healthcare, global leadership in this space increasingly depends on policies and systems that support innovation, industry growth and technology adoption. Industrial policy, such as strategic investments in R&D, tax incentives, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing will play a critical role in shaping where and how these technologies scale. At the same time, international alignment on trade, standards, and regulatory frameworks will influence market access and interoperability. This panel will explore the global landscape for XR, with a focus on how public policy, including trade policy, regulation, procurement, and privacy protections impacts innovation, investment, and competitiveness. How are differing approaches in the U.S., Europe, and Asia shaping the future of immersive technology? And how can the U.S. position itself as the global leader?

11:10 AM

Panel #2: Military Training and Operations with Immersive Technologies

Immersive technologies are redefining how the U.S. military trains, plans, and operates, delivering high-fidelity simulations that accelerate readiness and cutting-edge tools that enhance real-time decision-making in complex operational environments. From mission rehearsal and battlefield visualization to remote maintenance and command coordination, these capabilities are becoming essential to modern defense strategy. But as immersive systems are integrated deeper into the defense enterprise, they also introduce new cybersecurity vulnerabilities that could jeopardize mission success and national security. This panel will bring together military leaders, technologists, and policy experts to examine the transformative impact of immersive technologies on defense operations and training, assess the evolving threat landscape, and discuss the policy frameworks needed to ensure these systems are secure, resilient, and aligned with U.S. strategic objectives.

12:00 PM

12:10 PM

Lunch Break

12:50 PM

Lightning Talk: State of the XR Ecosystem by Qualcomm

1:10 PM

Panel #3: The Future of the Virtual Economy: XR, Crypto, and Blockchain in the Next Digital Era

As the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds continue to blur, XR, cryptocurrency, and blockchain technologies are converging to create a thriving virtual economy. From decentralized marketplaces and digital asset ownership to immersive commerce and tokenized experiences, these innovations are transforming how people work, trade, and interact online. This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges in building a sustainable and secure virtual economy, the role of policy and regulation, and the implications for businesses, consumers, and global markets.

1:50 PM

Panel #4: The Rise of Wearable AI & Implications for Privacy Policy

Wearable AI is reshaping how people interact with technology, blending artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and real-time data processing into seamless, intuitive experiences. Wearables, including smart glasses, rings, and pins, are at the forefront of this transformation, offering new ways to communicate, work, and navigate the world. However, this new wave of connectivity introduces critical concerns around cybersecurity, privacy, and digital autonomy. As these immersive systems collect vast amounts of sensitive data—from biometric information and physical movements to detailed scans of private environments—questions of data ownership and protection become paramount. Who controls this information? What safeguards should exist for this data? This panel will explore the evolving landscape of wearable AI, the convergence of AI and AR, and what it will take for these technologies to become mainstream—while examining how current privacy frameworks apply and what new approaches might be needed to address these unique challenges.

2:30 PM

Congressional Fireside Chat

2:50 PM

Break

3:20 PM

Lightning Talk: XR That Works—Achieving Mainstream Adoption by Cleaning Up the Mess We've Made

One of the most astounding facts about XR tech is that it's been successfully avoiding mainstream adoption for over 30 years. In this lightning round, Matt Chaussee, CEO of CareerViewXR, will share how he, alongside his wife Katie, evolved their "mom and pop XR shop" into a national edtech platform, by putting real-world needs ahead of flashy features.

From real estate and tourism to workforce, CTE, and inclusive employment, Matt will describe instances where their initial approach to XR created more barriers than it solved, and how their company's shift in mindset, grounded in accessibility and pragmatic problem solving, has helped schools, employers, and communities shift from being "XR avoidant" to becoming some of its strongest advocates for mainstream adoption.

3:30 PM

Lightning Talk: The New Frontier—How Spatial Intelligence Is Reshaping Real Estate and Tourism

Real estate and tourism are two of the largest sectors of the U.S. economy, together contributing over $6 trillion annually. Nearly every homebuyer now begins their journey online, while trillions in travel spending are shaped by digital discovery. This talk will explore two groundbreaking concepts: the immersive web, which blends familiar 2D web experiences with immersive 3D enhancements, and spatial intelligence, a combination of XR and AI that enables spatially aware adaptation within these environments. Together, these advances are transforming how people search, buy, and explore. Using real-world examples from Zillow, Matterport, and Expedia, Mike Merchant, CEO of Codazen, will share how emerging standards, AR devices, and AI are reshaping these industries, and why leadership in the immersive web is a matter of national competitiveness.

3:40 PM

Panel #5: Intelligent Virtual Characters: Revolutionizing Immersive Reality Experiences

Generative AI-powered non-player characters (NPCs) are ushering in a new era of immersive, interactive, and contextually aware experiences within XR environments. Unlike traditional scripted NPCs, these embodied AI characters are functionally autonomous, increasingly indistinguishable from other human users and possess world-specific knowledge. For many consumers, these AI-driven NPCs will represent their first direct interaction with artificial intelligence in XR – engaging in real-time conversation that makes XR platforms more dynamic and engaging. This panel examines the transformative potential of generative AI NPCs, highlighting their applications not only in gaming and social connection, but also in education, training, and mental health. This discussion will explore innovative use cases for AI NPCs across industries; technical and policy safeguards for privacy, security, and user safety; and the unique challenges of applying existing regulatory frameworks-originally designed for 2D platforms-to immersive XR environments.

4:20 PM

Closing Remarks

4:30 PM

Network Reception Begins

6:00 PM

Conference Concludes

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