Co jeśli internet będzie unosił się w powietrzu? | Sebastian Iwanowski | TEDxKoźmiński University
Sebastian Iwanowski argues that augmented reality (AR) represents the next natural evolution of technology, moving the internet from a place we 'visit' on screens to a layer woven into physical reality. He highlights current real-world AR applications in medicine, culture, and education, while warning that the greatest challenge will be preserving shared human experience when everyone begins perceiving a different version of reality.
Summary
Sebastian Iwanowski opens by tracing the historical miniaturization of technology — from room-sized computers to desktops, pockets, and wrists — arguing that technology consistently trends toward becoming smaller, less noticeable, and more natural. He poses the central question: will we still pull out phones in 10 years, or will the internet surround us so naturally that screens become unnecessary?
He identifies a core paradox: screens demand our full attention (illustrated by the humorous example of checking the time and ending up watching someone build a miniature house for a turtle), yet we simultaneously strive to make technology more seamlessly integrated into life. He argues this tension points toward augmented reality (AR) as the logical next step — not a better screen, but technology that blends with physical reality.
Iwanowski notes that the AR transition is already underway through smartphones: millions of people already use AR to preview furniture in their homes, virtually try on makeup, or test products in their own space, often without consciously thinking of it as AR. He emphasizes that major tech companies are studying how people react to these 'digital layers of the world' to prepare for a future where AR glasses become as ubiquitous as smartphones.
He presents several concrete use cases: surgeons in Poland have been using AR since 2019 to overlay 3D organ models and medical data directly onto patients during operations; museums could use AR to restore artworks to their original appearance with missing fragments and historical context; and classrooms could transform into immersive environments where children physically walk among planets rather than reading about them.
Iwanowski also frames AR as a tool for accessibility and inclusion — breaking down communication barriers and making experiences like doctor visits more accessible. He further argues that when combined with artificial intelligence, the technology will move beyond displaying information to truly understanding context: what we see, where we are, and what we need.
He concludes with a philosophical concern: for thousands of years, humans have shared the same reality, but AR could shatter that. Two people standing face-to-face might see entirely different things — one seeing ads, another seeing art; one seeing work notifications, another seeing real-time translations. He argues the ultimate question is not how advanced the technology will be, but what happens to shared human experience when everyone begins seeing a different world. The smartphone, he suggests, is not the final screen but the first step toward a reality where the internet becomes a layer of the world itself.
Key Insights
- Iwanowski argues that AR is not a future concept but an already-occurring transition — millions of people use AR daily via smartphones to preview furniture or try on makeup, often without recognizing it as AR at all.
- Iwanowski claims that AR-assisted surgeries have been taking place regularly in Poland since 2019, where surgeons see 3D organ models and medical data overlaid directly onto patients in real time — without looking away at a separate monitor.
- Iwanowski argues that the screen creates a fundamental paradox: technology trends toward naturalness and invisibility, yet screens inherently demand full attention and pull users away from the physical world around them.
- Iwanowski contends that when AR is combined with artificial intelligence, technology will stop merely displaying information and instead begin understanding context — perceiving what the user sees, where they are, and what they currently need.
- Iwanowski warns that for the first time in human history, shared reality may cease to exist — two people standing opposite each other could simultaneously see completely different things, making the preservation of common experience humanity's greatest challenge with this technology.
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