Cortney Harding on the Metaphysical Future of Work

What if the future of work means being present without actually “being” there? In this episode, Kate O’Neill and Cortney Harding dig into how AI, spatial computing, and XR are quietly reshaping both our work and our very definition of human value, beyond the headlines and hype. Topics covered:The transformative power of spatial computing and XR beyond the AI buzz How enterprises are quietly adopting XR for training and productivity “Metaverse” vs. “Metaphysical”: the next evolution of immersive tech Redefining human strengths and “non-machine premiums” in the AI era How AI and XR can foster inclusion and overcome workplace bias Practical pilots for leaders: headset days, policies, and workflow innovations Why employee and consumer satisfaction metrics matter more than ever Predictions for seamless, reality-blending experiences in the next five years Connect with: Cortney Harding Episode Chapters00:00:05 – Welcome to The Tech Humanist Show 00:00:17 – Premium human strengths in an AI-driven workplace 00:00:28 – Cortney Harding on underestimating XR’s impact 00:01:32 – What’s quietly evolving in XR beyond AI hype? 00:02:01 – XR in the mainstream and the interconnected tech ecosystem 00:04:05 – The underreported impact of XR in enterprise and education 00:05:32 – From “metaverse” to “metaphysical”: reframing the future 00:09:00 – Extended reality, AI, and rethinking collaboration 00:11:25 – Developing non-machine premiums to stay ahead of AI 00:13:47 – Four “E”s where humans have the edge: Emotion, Enhancement, Experience, Ego 00:18:10 – Meeting people where they are: designing human-centered spatial experiences 00:21:01 – Frictionless experiences, seamless recommendations, and what’s next 00:22:24 – When AR/VR is actually worth it (and when a website is plenty) 00:24:31 – Aligning AI with organizational and human goals 00:26:11 – Creating a permission structure for meaningful AI use at work 00:31:11 – The shift from hours worked to task-based value 00:36:45 – One pilot for the future: “Headset day” at work 00:39:18 – Inclusion, avatars, and telling the tech story differently 00:40:29 – Lightning round: best, worst, and most promising XR use cases 00:42:53 – Five-year forecast: immersive experiences as everyday reality 00:43:51 – Where to find “The Spatial Race” and final thoughts