AWE 2025: The Energy, The Tech, and the Vision That Changed Me
- Nina Ross
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
There are some trips that shift your mindset — and AWE 2025 in Long Beach did exactly that. From immersive tech demos to real-life meetups with my Horizon Worlds fam, this conference was the space to dream bigger, connect deeper, and walk in full creative purpose.
This wasn’t just a tech conference. This was a vibe, a vision, and a validation that I belong in this space — as a creator, innovator, and woman bridging multiple worlds.
IRL Connections with Horizon Worlds Creators
First off, let’s talk about the heart of this experience: meeting some of my fellow Horizon Worlds creators in person. It’s one thing to collab virtually, but seeing these amazing minds in real life? That hit different. We laughed, built, brainstormed, and talked about where this movement is really going.
Creators have been holding it down in the metaverse, and seeing them out here grinding, dreaming, and showing up as their full selves was a moment I won’t forget.
Let’s Talk Tech: The Future is Now
From AI to AR, the floor was packed with innovation that had me saying wow every five minutes. I had the chance to connect with and demo some incredible technology and speak directly with the brains behind the brands. Here’s a breakdown of who caught my eye:
🟣
Snap Inc.
I had a powerful moment with the Snap team — discussing AR, creator tools, and how Snap’s platform is still one of the most dynamic spaces for real-time digital storytelling.
🔺
Snapdragon / Qualcomm
The energy around Snapdragon’s advancements was incredible. Their chips are powering some of the most exciting new XR wearables, and the conversation around immersive tech’s speed and responsiveness was on point.
🔵
Samsung
Their team had some seriously impressive hardware on display — sleek, powerful, and built for spatial computing. I’m looking forward to future convos on how Samsung and creators like myself can collaborate.
🟡
RP1
A full-on metaverse browser? Yes, I got to demo the RP1, and it’s giving futuristic realness. The idea of browsing spatial content like you scroll a website is wild — and absolutely where we’re headed.
🟢
JoyGlasses
Big shoutout to George from JoyGlasses. Not only did he let me demo his wearable tech, but he took the time to walk me through his why. His mission and energy were real, and I’d love to explore future collabs. This is wearable tech done with purpose.
Robots, XR, and the Medical Merge
One of the most powerful parts of the expo was witnessing how VR and immersive tech are reshaping healthcare. As someone deeply passionate about the medical field — especially in the cancer and oncology space — it moved me to see robots and XR simulations being used for training, treatment planning, and even patient care.
Bridging the gap between medical and tech isn’t a theory anymore… it’s happening now. I had meaningful conversations about how creators, clinicians, and engineers can work together to make healing smarter and more human.
Long Beach, You Were Good to Me
This city holds a vibe all its own. The palm trees, the breeze, the community — I had time to reflect, recharge, and realign my vision. I left AWE with a heart full of gratitude and a head full of ideas.
I’m already thinking about next year. Let’s just say… I plan to return with even more to say and share.
Let’s Connect
If we met at AWE, I’d love to continue the conversation.
If we didn’t get to connect — let’s fix that.
📩 Email: alifewithnina1283@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.alifewithnina.com
📱 Social: @luvninaross on IG, TikTok luvmrsross
Whether you’re a brand, a fellow creator, or a visionary looking to collaborate — I’m open, aligned, and ready to build something beautiful.
AWE 2025 wasn’t just an event. It was a reminder: the future isn’t waiting on us. It’s already here.
The only question is — how will you show up in it?
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