#7 - The Engine of Spatial Computing: Ziad Asghar and Qualcomm’s Vision for Spatial Computing

Description:

In this episode, Ziad Asghar—Senior Vice President and General Manager of XR and Spatial Computing at Qualcomm, and one of the key architects pushing to make spatial computing a reality—discusses the company’s strategic approach to AI-powered smart glasses. He shares insights into the core philosophies shaping the market, from the open vs. closed ecosystem debate to the critical role of device constellations and lessons from the smartphone era. Ziad also offers his vision for a future where an "AI orchestrator" creates a deeply personalised spatial internet, elevating smart glasses from a simple display to a true cognitive partner.

This conversation offers authoritative insights from one of the sector’s most influential leaders, and is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of spatial computing.

Transcript:

https://www.notion.so/the-spatial-computing-podcast/Transcript-for-Pioneering-the-Next-Frontier-Ziad-Asghar-and-Qualcomm-s-Vision-for-Spatial-Computing-26ab6f708b428045a2a8c80abce35fe6?source=copy_link

Timestamps:

• (00:13) – The AI Strategy: Why Smart Glasses are the Ultimate AI Interface
• (04:48) – Ecosystem Philosophy: Balancing Power, Access, and Openness
• (08:51) – The "Superpowers" Use Case: Solving Real Problems with AR
• (12:00) – The Vision: Device Constellations and the "AI Orchestrator"
• (19:00) – The Infrastructure: How 6G and Edge Computing Will Power the Future
• (24:00) – Lessons from the Smartphone Era: How Past Transitions Inform the Future
• (27:00) – The Path to Mainstream Adoption

Episode Links:

• Ziad’s LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziad-asghar-794404/⁠
• Ziad's Twitter: https://x.com/ziad_asghar
• Qualcomm XR Website: ⁠https://www.qualcomm.com/products/application/xr⁠
• Qualcomm Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/Qualcomm⁠