Niantic in talks to sell Pokemon Go to Scopely Inc. for approximately $3.5 billion. Keep in mind, Niantic doesn’t own Pokemon, so even though it generates billions every year, it is expensive to operate, and the company doesn’t keep enough of the dough. Founded by John Hanke, Niantic has a history rooted in geospatial data visualization, contributing to the development of Google Earth and Google Maps before venturing into AR gaming. Despite the initial success of titles like Ingress and Pokémon Go, the company has faced challenges, including layoffs and project cancellations, due to the slower-than-expected growth of the AR market and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Niantic’s future focus appears to be on enhancing spatial intelligence through large-scale machine learning models, leveraging data collected from its gaming applications to build detailed 3D maps of the world.
Brahma Acquires Metaphysic to Expand AI-Driven Content Creation. Brahma, the AI technology subsidiary of DNEG Group, has acquired Metaphysic, a company known for its photorealistic AI content and deepfake technology, including viral Tom Cruise impersonations and Hollywood de-aging work. The deal, structured as a merger, values Brahma at $1.43 billion. Metaphysic’s AI tools, previously used in films like Furiosa and Alien: Romulus, will now integrate into Brahma’s AI-native product suite for video, image, and audio creation. Brahma plans to expand beyond film into enterprise AI content solutions. Tom Graham, the current CEO of Metaphysic, will initially serve as President of Brahma and later transition to CEO once the integration is complete.
Dead AI Pin Humanely Picked Up For Parts by HP. Humane, the startup behind the AI Pin, has been acquired by HP Inc. for $116 million. Founded by ex-Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, Humane had raised over $230 million but faced challenges with the AI Pin, including negative reviews and high return rates. The acquisition excludes the AI Pin device, which will cease functioning on February 28, 2025, as Humane’s servers go offline. Refunds are available for customers who received their devices on or after November 15, 2024. HP plans to integrate Humane’s software, patents, and team into a new division called HP IQ, focusing on AI integration across its product lines.
Microsoft Unveiled the Majorana 1 chip, a significant advancement in quantum computing. Quantum computing is a new kind of computing that uses qubits instead of regular bits. Unlike traditional bits, which are either 0 or 1, qubits can exist in multiple states at once. This makes quantum computers powerful enough to tackle problems that overwhelm normal computers, like simulating molecules for drug discovery or breaking encryption. The chip, detailed in a Nature paper, has eight topological qubits made from indium arsenide and aluminum. Microsoft isn’t rushing to commercialize it. Instead, they’re focusing on long-term research, aiming for a million-qubit system—a scale where quantum computing could truly transform technology.
Alpha3D, an AI-driven 3D asset creation platform, has acquired MoonlanderAI, known for its AI-based game development tools. This acquisition establishes the first platform-agnostic XR user-generated content community, enabling creators to produce and deploy 3D content across various platforms seamlessly. Alpha3D’s technology allows users to convert 2D images or text into 3D models swiftly, serving over 550,000 users and partnering with companies like Nvidia and Google. Financial terms for Alpha3D’s acquisition of MoonlanderAI have not been publicly disclosed. However, Alpha3D has previously raised €2 million in funding from investors, including Curiosity VC, former Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, and Sebastian Borget, cofounder of The Sandbox.
Are custom creator experiences coming to Grand Theft Auto? Was there really any doubt, having created an expansive, city-scale multiplayer world, Take Two Interactive would not try to populate it with transacting kids and adults spending their time there without going on a crime spree – or being the victim of one. It works for their competitor Epic Games, whose users now spend more than half their time socializing on their own islands in Fortnite, a world away from the battle royale.
Replikant Chat Brings AI Characters To Life. Replikant launches AI-powered 3D animation tool, Replikant Chat, enabling real-time animated AI characters, lip sync, and camera control.
Loomos AI Glasses Take Aim At Meta’s Ray-Bans With AI-Powered Wearable. Loomos AI Glasses, powered by GPT-4o, challenge Meta’s Ray-Bans with 4K photos, AI voice assistance, and long battery life, aiming to redefine AI wearables.
‘Gorilla Tag’ Sequel ‘Orion Drift’ Launches in Early Access Next Week on Quest. Another Axiom, the studio behind the VR hit Gorilla Tag, is launching its sequel, Orion Drift, in early access on February 25th for Quest 2 and newer devices. The game supports up to 200 players in a social VR space, featuring activities like ‘Drift Ball,’ reminiscent of low-gravity handball, and various mini-games. Orion Drift will be free to play.
“Thief Simulator VR: Greenview Street” has surpassed 310,000 units sold on the Meta Quest platform since its July 2022 release. Priced at $20, this milestone suggests potential revenue exceeding $6 million, excluding periodic discounts and additional paid expansions. It is also available on PlayStation VR2.
This column is the script for the news segment of our AI/XR Podcast, hosted Charlie Fink, professor, author, and the writer of this weekly column, with Ted Schilowitz, former studio executive and co-founder of Red Camera, and Rony Abovitz, CEO of Synthbee AI, and founder of Mako Robotics and Magic Leap. This week our guest is Naeem Talukdar, CEO and co-founder of Moonvalley. We can be found on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
What We’re Reading
Signs We’re In a New Era of XR (Mike Boland/AR Insider)
Meta Is Now Using “Mixed Reality” To Mean Both MR And VR (David Heaney/Upload)
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