Meet the Jury
Our jury panel is comprised of an international pool of creative industry professionals from art and creative directors, curators, publishers and other influential luminaries.
Yiqi Zhao, currently the Design Lead at Meta Reality Labs, specializes in AI-driven spatial computing across Meta Quest products, cross-screen UGC platforms, and wearables. Her team has delivered human-centric innovations, including the Meta Quest headsets and Horizon Ecosystem. Meta is accelerating the future by integrating AI advancements with mixed reality and the metaverse, focusing on breakthroughs in AI-powered wearables and immersive experiences. This strategic direction aims to democratize access to cutting-edge technologies, transforming how users interact with both digital and physical worlds. Meta has also released its open-source Llama, powerful multimodal models that enable developers to build and deploy AI-powered applications with greater flexibility and customization.
With a research background at Harvard and MIT Media Lab, Yiqi began her HCI and 3D journey in brain-computer interfaces (EEG) with wearable AI. The MIT Media Lab is a renowned interdisciplinary research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, dedicated to exploring the intersection of technology, multimedia, sciences, art, and design. It is a leader in human-computer interaction (HCI) research, pioneering advancements in how humans engage with digital systems, and fostering innovation by bringing together diverse fields to create groundbreaking solutions that address complex global challenges. Yiqi’s past research in the BCI domain and AI creations have been showcased globally in Paris, London, Prague, New York, Cambridge, and Washington D.C.
Previously, she led Unity’s platform initiatives, including the visionOS partnership for Apple Vision Pro and XR Creation Tools for Meta Quest Platforms. Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest are state-of-the-art headsets that set new standards in immersive technology. The Apple Vision Pro offers seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem, delivering high-fidelity productivity entertainment and lifestyle experiences. Meanwhile, Meta Quest provides a versatile platform for virtual reality and mixed reality, featuring cutting-edge graphics and intuitive user interfaces to enhance interactive experiences. She also made her mark in the gaming sector by shipping Destiny 2, a critically acclaimed and commercially successful AAA multiplayer first-person shooter that received The Game Awards. She also made her mark in the gaming sector by shipping Destiny 2, a critically acclaimed and commercially successful multiplayer first-person shooter that received The Game Awards. Developed by Bungie and published by Activision, Destiny 2 has been a benchmark for cooperative gaming experiences since its release in 2017. With a richly detailed sci-fi universe, engaging gameplay mechanics, and extensive character customization options, the game has captivated millions of players worldwide across various platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Yiqi’s vision shapes the future of immersive technologies by uniting XR and AI. As a prominent figure in creator relations for over a decade, she leads Deepcake, an AIGC community boasting 200 million monthly views. Her work focuses on creating accessible, intuitive experiences that bridge the digital and physical worlds. At the GenAI Summit 2024, Yiqi presented her vision for “Wearable AI: Smart Glasses, Spatial Computing, and the Future of Human-AI Co-Creation,” highlighting the transformative role of spatial computing in enhancing everyday technology engagement.
Yiqi’s approach to spatial computing emphasizes multitasking co-location mastery, multimodal AI interaction, and blending realities, demonstrating the potential to revolutionize daily engagement with technology. Additionally, her focus on human-AI collaboration empowers creators by providing accessible design tools that simplify the creative process, democratizing innovation and expanding opportunities for creators at all skill levels.
Yiqi also hosted events at well-known institutions like Harvard, MIT, Columbia, and has played a key role in major industry gatherings such as GDC, AWE, and the GenAI Summit. Her dedication to the community is further recognized through her role as a judge or advisor at over 30 events, including the Indigo Design Award, Creative Communication Award, Design MasterPrize, XR Design Challenge, XR Hack and MIT Reality Hack.
