niantic to load ‘pokemon go’ is $3.5 billion and HP buys dead AI pins

Niantic will give a talk to Pokemon Go To Scopely Inc. for approximately $3.5 billion. Niantic doesn’t own Pokemon, so despite generating billions each year, it’s expensive to operate and the company doesn’t have enough fabric. Founded by John Hanke, Niantic contributed to the development of Google Earth and Google Maps before entering AR games, and has a history rooted in the visualization of geospatial data. Despite the initial success of titles like Ingress and Pokémon Go, the company faces challenges such as layoffs and project cancellations due to slow forecast growth in 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 and leveraging data collected from gaming applications to build detailed 3D maps of the world.

Brahma earns metaphysics to expand AI-driven content creation. Brahma, an AI technology subsidiary of DNEG Group, has acquired Metaphysic, a company known for its light-electorized AI content and deepfake technology, including impersonation of Viral Tom Cruises and deaging Hollywood. The transaction, which was constructed as a merger, values ​​Brahma at $1.43 billion. Metaphysic’s AI tools previously used in films such as Furiosa and Alien: Romulus are integrated into Brahma’s AI native product suite for video, image and audio creation. Brahma plans to expand beyond film to enterprise AI content solutions. Tom Graham, current CEO of Metaphysics, initially serves as Brahma’s president and will then transition to CEO once the integration is complete.

Dead AI pins that HP has humanely picked up on the parts. Humane, the startup behind AI PIN, was acquired by HP Inc. for $116 million. Founded by former applicant employees, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno raised over $230 million, but faced challenges with AI PINs, including negative reviews and high rates of return. The acquisition will rule out AI PIN devices that will stop functioning on February 28, 2025 as Human servers go offline. Refunds are available to customers who receive their devices after November 15th, 2024. HP plans to integrate Humane’s software, patents and teams into a new division called HP IQ, focusing on AI integration across the product line.

Microsoft has announced the Mayorana 1 chip. This is a major advancement in quantum computing. Quantum Computing is a new kind of computing that uses Qubits instead of regular bits. Unlike traditional bits that 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, such as simulating molecules for discovering living organisms and destroying cryptographically. The chips detailed in Nature Paper include eight topological kibits made from indium arsenic and aluminum. Microsoft is not in a hurry to commercialize it. Instead, they focus on long-term research and aim for a 1 million kit system. This is the scale through which quantum computing can truly change technology.

Alpha3D, an AI-driven 3D asset creation platform, has acquired Moonlanderai, known for its AI-based game development tools. The acquisition will establish an initial platform-independent XR user-generated content community, allowing creators to seamlessly create and deploy 3D content across a variety of platforms. Alpha3D’s technology allows users to quickly convert 2D images or text into 3D models, serve over 550,000 users, and partner with companies such as Nvidia and Google. The financial terms of Alpha3D’s Moonlanderai acquisition have not been disclosed. However, Alpha3D previously raised 2 million euros of funding from investors, including Curiosity VC (former Estonian Prime Minister TaaviR¿ivas) and Sandbox co-founder Sebastian Bolgett.

Are you coming to Grand Theft Auto for your custom creator experience? Do you really have doubts about creating a vast, urban-scale multiplayer world? Two interactive people did not try to fill it with children or adults who spent time there without going to a crime or being a single victim. Works in epic games from competitors. The user spends more than half of his interactions on his own island in Fortnite, a world away from the Battle Royale.

Replikant Chat brings AI characters to life. Replikant launches Replikant Chat, a 3D animation tool powered by AI, allowing real-time animated AI characters, lip sync and camera controls.

Loomos AI glasses use wearables with AI to aim for Meta Ray-Bans. Powered by the GPT-4O, Lumos AI glasses challenge the Meta Ray-Ban with 4K photography, AI voice support and long battery life, aimed at redefining AI wearables.

The sequel to “Gorilla Tag” “Orion Drift” will be released in early access next week. Another axiom, the studio behind the VR hit Gorilla tag, launched its sequel, Orion Drift, on February 25th, in Quest 2 and early access to new devices. The game supports up to 200 players in the social VR space and features activities such as “driftball”, low gravity handball, and various mini-games. Orion Drift is free to play.

“Thief Simulator VR: Greenview Street” has exceeded 310,000 units sold on the Meta Quest platform since its release in July 2022. The milestone, priced at $20, suggests potential revenues of over $6 million, excluding regular discounts and additional paid expansions. It is also available on PlayStation VR2.

This column is a script for the news segment of the AI/XR podcast and is hosted alongside the author of this weekly column, Charlie Fink, and former studio executives and co-founders of Red Camera, Ted Shirowitz and Ronnie Abovitz. Masu. , 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. It can be found on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube.

What we’re reading

Signs of the new era of XR (Mike Boland/AR Insider)

Meta currently means both MR and VR using “mixed reality” (David Heaney/Upload)