A recent conversation on the Shawn Ryan Show has drawn attention to an unusual intersection of spatial computing and consciousness research. Danny Goler, an independent researcher, appeared on the program to discuss what he calls the “DMT laser code”—structured visual patterns that thousands of people have consistently reported seeing when viewing lasers under the influence of DMT 1. The discussion covered how this discovery grew from a personal experience into a broader research effort, and how Apple Vision Pro fits into the picture 1 2.
The episode, which runs roughly two hours and forty minutes, has generated significant online discussion 4. Goler founded a nonprofit called Code of Reality to research the phenomenon and developed an Apple Vision Pro tool to map subjective reports of the experience 2. A social media post attributed to Goler states that using Apple Vision Pro while on DMT makes “the static symbolic code of reality” visible 3. Another post referenced the experiments around the DMT laser and whether Apple Vision Pro can help demonstrate the phenomenon 7.
None of this proves that the laser code reflects an objective feature of reality rather than a shared perceptual pattern. But the story is useful for understanding how emerging spatial computing tools are being adopted for citizen-science-style consciousness research—and what the genuine tradeoffs are.
What the DMT Laser Code Phenomenon Actually Involves
According to the episode summary, Goler’s research began with a personal experience during a DMT session 1. He subsequently documented observations from over 2,000 individuals and created a public database for further investigation 1. The core claim is that people consistently report seeing structured visual patterns—described as a “code”—when viewing lasers while under the influence of DMT 1.
The Shawn Ryan Show had previously discussed the laser-DMT experiment when a guest named Chase Hughes brought it up, and a reel about the topic went viral 6. That history matters because it situates the phenomenon not as a single person’s claim but as something that has circulated in online communities and attracted enough attention to warrant a follow-up investigation.
Goler frames the broader context of his work in terms of simulation theory, the computational nature of consciousness, and the possible existence of non-human intelligences 1. He also discusses altered states of consciousness as potential access points to deeper layers of reality, the illusion of individual self, and humanity’s spiritual evolution 1. These are philosophical and speculative claims, not established science. The empirical portion is the database of over 2,000 reported observations and the attempt to use spatial computing tools to document them 1 2.
Where Apple Vision Pro Enters the Picture
Goler developed an Apple Vision Pro tool specifically to map subjective reports of the laser code phenomenon 2. The premise is that the headset’s spatial computing capabilities—its ability to overlay digital information on a real-world view and track what the wearer sees—could help capture or represent what people experience during these sessions 2 7.
This is where the practical questions become interesting, regardless of what one thinks about the underlying phenomenon.
Spatial computing headsets differ from traditional recording tools in several ways relevant to consciousness research. A standard camera records a scene from an external perspective. A headset like Apple Vision Pro captures data from the wearer’s approximate viewpoint, including eye tracking, hand positions, and environmental mapping. For someone trying to document a subjective visual experience, that first-person spatial data is potentially more useful than a third-person video recording.
The tradeoff is that the headset itself introduces variables. Apple Vision Pro has its own rendering pipeline, display technology, and sensor processing. If someone reports seeing structured patterns while wearing the headset, distinguishing between patterns generated by the device’s display system and patterns the person attributes to the DMT experience requires careful controls. The headset’s passthrough video, for instance, is not a transparent window—it is a digitally reconstructed view of the environment. Any structured visual artifact could in principle originate from the display, the passthrough processing, or the interaction between the display and the person’s altered visual system.
This does not invalidate the research approach, but it does mean that spatial computing tools designed for consumer and enterprise use come with limitations when pressed into service as scientific instruments.
The Citizen-Science Model and Its Tradeoffs
Goler’s approach follows a citizen-science pattern: collect large numbers of self-reported observations, create a public database, and look for patterns 1. This model has genuine strengths. Self-report databases can surface phenomena that controlled laboratory studies might miss, because laboratory settings are constrained in ways that may not reproduce the conditions under which people have these experiences. A large sample size—over 2,000 reports in this case—provides enough material to look for consistencies and variations 1.
The weaknesses are equally real. Self-reported data from people in altered states is inherently unreliable in the scientific sense. Memory of psychedelic experiences can be fragmentary or distorted. Reports may be influenced by expectation, prior exposure to descriptions of the phenomenon, or social reinforcement within a community. The fact that people report similar patterns could reflect an objective shared phenomenon, or it could reflect shared expectations shaped by community discussion.
Goler’s nonprofit, Code of Reality, is positioned to address some of these issues through structured data collection 2. But the distinction between a nonprofit research organization and a peer-reviewed scientific study is worth keeping in mind. A nonprofit can collect data, build tools, and publish findings without the scrutiny that academic institutional review boards and peer review provide.
For readers interested in this kind of research, the practical takeaway is to evaluate citizen-science claims by looking at the data collection methodology, the controls for expectation effects, and whether findings have been independently replicated—not just by the volume of reports or the sophistication of the tools involved.
The Alignment Problem Framing
Goler frames humanity’s current stage as an “alignment problem,” suggesting that our ability to shift from competitive to collaborative consciousness may determine our place in a larger cosmic community 1. This is a philosophical position rather than a scientific claim, and it borrows terminology from artificial intelligence research—where “alignment” refers to the challenge of ensuring AI systems pursue intended goals.
The analogy is provocative but loose. In AI alignment, the problem is concrete: how do you ensure a system optimizes for what you actually want rather than for a misinterpreted proxy? In Goler’s framing, the problem is about human consciousness shifting modes—from competitive to collaborative 1. These are different categories of challenge. The AI version is technical; the consciousness version is cultural, psychological, and perhaps spiritual.
That said, the framing does connect to a real question that spatial computing raises. If tools like Apple Vision Pro can capture and represent subjective experiences more richly than previous technologies, they could in principle help build shared understanding across different viewpoints. Whether that leads to collaboration or to new forms of manipulation depends on how the tools are used—a genuine alignment question, though not necessarily the one Goler intends.
Practical Considerations for XR-Based Consciousness Research
Setting aside the philosophical claims, the DMT laser code research highlights several practical considerations for anyone thinking about using spatial computing tools to study altered states of consciousness.
First, understand the difference between first-person spatial data and objective measurement. A headset can record what the wearer’s eyes are pointed at, what their hands are doing, and what the environment looks like from their position. It cannot directly record what they subjectively experience. Any mapping between the physical data and the subjective report is an inference, not a direct capture.
Second, account for the device’s own visual processing. Apple Vision Pro’s passthrough system reconstructs the visual environment through cameras and displays. Any research claiming that the headset captured something unusual needs to rule out device-generated artifacts. This requires testing the headset under the same conditions without the person, or comparing reports across different display technologies.
Third, consider the legal and ethical dimensions. DMT is a controlled substance in many jurisdictions. Research involving controlled substances, even citizen-science research, carries legal risks that institutional research protocols are designed to manage. Independent researchers operating outside academic institutions may not have access to legal review, ethical oversight, or the protections that institutional affiliation provides.
Fourth, be cautious about claims that technology validates subjective experience. The appeal of using Apple Vision Pro in this context is partly that it lends technological legitimacy to reports that might otherwise be dismissed. But a sophisticated tool does not inherently validate the phenomenon it is used to study. The validity depends on the research design, not the equipment.
Fifth, recognize the gap between database volume and scientific evidence. Over 2,000 reports is a substantial collection 1, but volume alone does not establish that the reported phenomenon is what researchers claim it to be. The value of a large database depends on data quality, consistency of collection methods, and the ability to distinguish signal from noise.
What the Broader Online Discussion Suggests
The online response to Goler’s appearance indicates genuine public interest in the intersection of spatial computing and consciousness research 4 5. Social media posts have circulated Goler’s claims about Apple Vision Pro making a “static symbolic code of reality” visible 3, and others have pointed to the experiments as worth examining 7.
This level of attention creates both opportunity and risk. The opportunity is that public interest can drive funding, participation, and serious investigation. The risk is that sensational framing—“something we can’t explain”—can outpace the evidence and create expectations that the research cannot meet.
For readers encountering this story, the useful approach is to separate the empirical claims from the philosophical ones. The useful question is not whether a headset proves the claim, but whether a transparent protocol can distinguish perception, device artifacts, and expectation.
Sources
- #320 Danny Goler - Apple Vision Pro May Have Captured …
- Danny Goler - Apple Vision Pro May Have Captured …
- If you haven’t tried the DMTx Apple Vision Pro combo, are …
- #320 Danny Goler - Apple Vision Pro May Have Captured …
- Danny Goler - Apple Vision Pro May Have Captured …
- #320 Danny Goler - Apple Vision Pro May Have Captured …
- Check out @GolerDanny on the @ShawnRyanShow …
