Season 3, Ep. 20: Designing AI, VR and AR for Social Good with Sean White of Mozilla

We’re familiar with product/market fit, but have you ever considered product/person fit? Having empathy for the end user is what differentiates the companies that design technology for the benefit of humans from those that are simply out to make a profit. So, how do we design AI, VR and AR products that promote social good—and truly change people’s lives?
Sean White is the Chief R&D Officer for Mozilla, the non-profit company behind the Firefox browser. Sean also serves as a visiting lecturer at Stanford University as well as a judge for the environmental category of the International Tech Awards. An entrepreneur and inventor, Sean is dedicated to leading the development of the technologies that enable creative expression, connect us to each other, and enhance our understanding of the world around us.
Today, Sean joins us to share his background in academia and startups as well as his experience in the early days of mixed reality. He explains what is necessary to promote the widespread adoption of VR, how to identify your personal mission, and the value in asking questions about emerging technology through art. Listen in for insight around Mozilla’s role as a ‘trusted personal agent’ and learn how the company works to create product/person fit!
Topics Covered
Sean’s background in academia and startups Grew up in San Antonio, TX Silicon Valley in 1988 to attend Stanford
Mozilla’s take on their role in advancing technology Internet is public good View selves as ‘trusted personal agent’
Sean’s experience in VR, AR and MR PhD in mixed reality Cost $1M to drive each eye in early days
Sean’s favorite recent AR experience Laurie Anderson, Tribeca Film Festival Reveals poem, song ‘inside her mind’
How to promote the wide adoption of VR/AR Normalization of hardware platform Less expensive, more ergonomic
Mozilla’s view of user identity in VR Ability to control identity is vital
Sean’s involvement with The Tech Promote innovation, change people’s lives Smithsonian AR project to identify plant species
Sean’s insight on finding your mission Worked with Professor Terry Winograd (inventor of AI) Learned about social responsibility, heart Aligns with Mozilla mission to benefit humans with tech
Sean’s take on asking questions through art Explore hopes, fears around new technologies in film ‘Art is good at asking questions’
How Mozilla tracks success and progress Measure by people using (where and how) Product/market AND product/person fit
Connect with Sean
Mozilla https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/

Mozilla on Twitter https://twitter.com/mozilla

Sean on Twitter https://twitter.com/seanwhite?lang=en

Sean on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanwhite/

Sean on Medium https://medium.com/@seanwhite

Resources
Favor https://favordelivery.com/

VIVE https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-virtual-reality-system/

Oculus Go https://www.oculus.com/go/

Tribeca Film Festival https://www.tribecafilm.com/immersive

Fortnite https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/buy-now/battle-royale

The Tech Museum of Innovation https://www.thetech.org/

Crisis Text Line https://www.crisistextline.org/

FirefoxReality https://mixedreality.mozilla.org/

Mozilla ‘Hubs’ https://hubs.mozilla.com/

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Cline/dp/0307887448

The Lawnmower Man https://www.amazon.com/Lawnmower-Man-New-Line-Platinum/dp/6304604572