Why I Oppose Magic Leap’s Mixed Reality Shopping

Adrien Book
3 min readJan 27, 2023

As a technophile, I am always excited about new developments in the field of technology. However, I am deeply opposed to the latest innovation being touted by Magic Leap: mixed reality shopping. In my opinion, this is nothing more than a ploy for the company to control how we spend our money.

First and foremost, the idea of mixed reality shopping raises serious concerns about privacy and surveillance. As consumer advocate and privacy expert, John Simpson, warns, “Once companies have access to detailed information about our shopping habits and preferences, they will have unprecedented power to influence our purchasing decisions.” This kind of constant tracking and monitoring is a violation of our right to privacy, and it sets a dangerous precedent for the future. Not only that, but it also raises concerns about data security and the potential for hackers to access sensitive information.

Furthermore, the implementation of mixed reality shopping is likely to have a detrimental impact on our economy. By allowing consumers to shop in virtual environments, companies will be able to bypass brick-and-mortar stores and directly target consumers with personalized advertising. This could lead to the decline of physical retail spaces and the loss of jobs. As economist and professor, Jeremy Rifkin, points out, “The rise of virtual commerce…

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