How is XR Shaping our minds and what does the future hold?

Being a child born in the late 1990s, I sit on the cusp of the Millennial and Gen Z generations, which means I have witnessed firsthand how rapidly technology has evolved. Everyday tasks that once required physical interaction, such as paying for parking or handling cash are now almost entirely digital. The shift towards a paperless, contactless world accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses and individuals sought ways to minimize physical exchange and enhance convenience. 

This digital transformation is not just limited to payments or paperwork; it extends to how we learn, work, and even interact with reality itself. XR is at the forefront of this shift, offering immersive solutions that go beyond traditional screens. Much like how smartphones have become essential tools for modern life, XR is emerging as the next technological evolution, reshaping education, healthcare, businesses, and communication. 

Extended Reality (XR) is a broad term that covers various immersive technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR).   

Studies have shown that students using AR and VR to learn are more engaged and curious. The market for VR in education has grown from 8 billion Euros in 2022 and is estimated to increase to 42 billion Euros by 2027. That is a huge leap, giving us an insight into the direction technology is heading and how XR is shaping the future. We are entering into a new age which is snowballing at a faster rate than technology has ever experienced before. XR is revolutionizing the way we interact with technology, shaping how we learn, communicate, and even process emotions.  

While XR and AI offer undeniable benefits in enhancing learning, creativity, and problem-solving, they also raise concerns about their deeper impact on human intuition, mental health, and social interaction. How do these technologies shape our perception of reality and influence our emotional well-being? 

As we become more reliant on AI-driven insights and XR experiences, there is a risk that human intuition and critical thinking could be diminished. Not everything in life is as straightforward as data on a screen, some decisions require emotional intelligence, instinct, and human judgment, qualities that technology may struggle to replicate or replace. Research suggests that prolonged VR use can lead to dissociation from reality, addiction, and even increased social isolation. A 2024 study from Marlynn Wei M.D, J.D 'Spending too much time with AI could worsen social skills', found that excessive use of virtual social spaces can increase feelings of loneliness in some users.  

While this technology gives us access to vast amounts of information, it also makes us vulnerable. We can easily become targets while we’re at home, in what should be our safe space. 

The impact on mental health can be significant, with social media playing a major role. It can encourage bullying and harmful behavior, affecting how we perceive ourselves and others. As technology continues to evolve, so do the risks and challenges that come with it. This is why it’s crucial to use technology as a tool and not let it control or define your life. 

As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, the access they have to sensitive biometric data, such as voice recognition, fingerprints, and eye scans, raises serious privacy and security concerns. While these features are often marketed as convenient and secure methods for authentication, they can also pose significant risks if misused. Biometric data is unique to each individual, and once compromised, it cannot be changed like a password. 

While conducting my research, I came across a virtual AI therapy app called ROWAN. I was curious, as I had never encountered anything like it before, so I decided to download the app and sign up for a free trial to assess its effectiveness. From the moment I created my account, I was impressed by the level of personalization it offered. I could adjust the communication style to match my preferences, whether I wanted a comforting and compassionate approach, an inspirational and uplifting tone, an analytical and solution-focused mindset, or a straightforward and direct conversation.  

During each session, ROWAN analyzed our discussions, highlighting key positive and negative words while offering tailored suggestions based on the information I provided. I was surprised at how realistic the simulation felt—at times, I almost forgot I was speaking to an AI rather than a human therapist. Over the course of my five-day trial, I became more aware of certain behavioral patterns and habits I hadn’t previously noticed. The app’s insights and suggestions helped me reflect on my emotions and responses in a way that felt natural and constructive.  

One feature I found particularly interesting was ROWAN’s ability to track life satisfaction and psychological flexibility over time. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to test this function due to my free trial ending. However, I looked up reviews from other users to understand their experiences, and many praised these tracking tools for helping them identify emotional patterns and triggers. The app allows users to review their session history, highlighting recurring negative thoughts or behaviors, and builds a bigger picture of why certain emotions might arise.  

Beyond its insights and personalized feedback, what stood out most to me about ROWAN was its accessibility. Unlike traditional therapy, which often requires appointments and long waiting times, ROWAN is available anytime, anywhere. Whether it's day or night, users can seek emotional support at their convenience. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I appreciated having the ability to discreetly chat with ROWAN whenever I felt overwhelmed in social situations. This made it a useful tool for grounding myself in the moment without drawing attention to my discomfort.  

While exploring the company behind ROWAN; Spicy Minds, I discovered that they also developed two other AI therapy apps: Sasha and Hazel. Each serves a unique purpose. While ROWAN provides on-demand emotional support, Sasha focuses on helping users develop therapeutic skills, and Hazel is designed to assist families in understanding their child's neurodivergent traits, offering tailored strategies to support their development at home and in school.  

Founded by Ben Cosh, Spicy Minds was created in response to his personal experiences with mental health challenges. The company emphasizes affordable, accessible, and adaptable mental health solutions, ensuring privacy and eliminating waiting lists. Their team includes clinicians, safeguarding experts, and data security specialists, reinforcing their commitment to providing safe and effective mental health support.  

As technology continues to evolve, AI therapy platforms like ROWAN are reshaping the way we access mental health support. While they may not fully replace traditional therapy, they offer an innovative, private, and convenient alternative for those seeking guidance and emotional relief.  

As someone with dyslexia, I’ve personally found AI and XR assistant tools incredibly helpful, from improving my essay structure and grammar to providing a better understanding of the material I’m learning. I struggle with phonological processing speed, phonological awareness, and auditory memory, which means I have difficulty retaining information and often need repetition and reminders to absorb things accurately. For others like me, who are visual learners, XR can have a significant positive impact on their education. As someone who is directly impacted by this, I have experienced firsthand its effectiveness. 

The interactive nature of XR learning makes complex information much easier to digest and retain. Personally, it also feels less embarrassing. When I struggle to keep up, it can be disheartening, especially when I’m surrounded by my peers who don’t face the same challenges. However, tools like text-to-speech applications, voice notes, grammar and spelling checkers, and AI feedback make me feel much more confident in what I’m doing. 

This adaptive way of learning, with lesson plans tailored to individual student needs, has really helped the educational system evolve. Studies show that interactive, immersive simulations make learning more engaging and hands-on, which helps students retain information and understand concepts more easily. For example, using XR to visualize historical events or explore scientific concepts in 3D gives students the chance to see things as they were, rather than just reading about them. This makes learning feel more real and helps deepen their understanding in a way that traditional methods often can’t.  

At institutions like the University of Oxford, medical students are able to practice surgeries using XR simulations, which significantly prevents risks in real-life procedures. These simulations are not only more cost-effective but also take the pressure off both students and instructors. The ability to learn in a discrete, non-judgmental environment provides a safe space for students to make mistakes and learn from them without feeling embarrassed or inadequate. 

Being a musician and artist, I wanted to investigate how AI and XR are reshaping the creative community. I’ve seen firsthand how these technologies open up new possibilities, but they’ve also sparked a lot of controversy, especially when it comes to the value and authenticity of creative work. 

AI can generate images, music, and even full compositions in seconds, things that could take an artist weeks or even months to create. This raises an important question: does AI-generated work hold the same value as human-made art? Many argue that it lacks the emotional depth, originality, and personal expression that artists pour into their work. Music and art have always been an extension of my self-expression, a way to communicate feelings and experiences that words alone can’t capture. The idea that a machine can replicate that in seconds feels unsettling. 

To me, it’s frustrating, even insulting. AI strips away the struggle, passion, and dedication that goes into creating something meaningful. It’s not just about the final product; it’s about the journey, the mistakes, the revisions, and the personal connection behind it. When I put my heart into a piece of music or art, I know it carries a part of me. But when AI generates something, does it carry anything at all? 

At the same time, I realize this isn’t just an issue in the creative world. As I mentioned before, AI is replacing human roles in many industries, like virtual therapy apps potentially putting therapists out of work. Maybe the problem isn’t just AI itself, but how we choose to use it. Should AI be seen as a replacement for human creativity, or could it be used as a tool to enhance artistic expression? The line between innovation and devaluation is becoming increasingly blurred, and as artists, musicians, and creatives, we have to ask: where do we draw the line? 

Overall, there is so much to gain from XR. It opens up opportunities we might never have thought possible, allowing us to learn, explore, and work more efficiently. When used as a tool, it can help us grow, improve our skills, and make tasks easier. 

But if it becomes more than just a tool, it could take away from the meaning of real human interaction, creativity, and expression. If we rely on it too much, we risk losing the very things that make us unique. That is why I believe XR should be used wisely and not taken for granted, it needs to be monitored and balanced. 

XR is changing the way we experience the world in ways we are only just beginning to understand. While it brings incredible advancements in education, therapy, communication and creativity, its rapid growth also raises concerns. As we move forward, the challenge will be finding the right balance, embracing innovation without losing sight of what makes us human.