Major Update To Pokémon GO With Large Geospatial Model Integration - 1

Image by Fireblaze64, from Deviantart

Major Update To Pokémon GO With Large Geospatial Model Integration

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Niantic’s Large Geospatial Model enhances Pokémon GO with a global 3D map, improving AR interactions and enabling persistent location-based experiences.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • The LGM creates a global 3D map linking data from billions of images.
  • Players will experience more realistic AR with smoother, seamless interactions in diverse locations.
  • LGM allows Pokémon GO to predict and generate AR in unscanned locations.

Niantic, the developer behind the wildly popular augmented reality game Pokémon GO, has recently announced a new update that promises to revolutionize how players interact with the game.

The update centers around the integration of a Large Geospatial Model (LGM), a technology that will significantly enhance the game’s augmented reality (AR) experience, providing players with a more immersive and accurate representation of the real world.

The introduction of the LGM is set to bring major changes to Pokémon GO, starting with how the game maps and interacts with the physical environment.

Traditionally, Pokémon GO relied on a variety of local models created from player-submitted scans of different locations.

These models provided the game with the visual data needed to generate AR content, such as Pokémon appearing at specific locations. However, these models were often limited in their ability to accurately represent the vast and diverse world that players interact with.

The new Large Geospatial Model goes beyond these localized scans by creating a global, 3D digital map that links data from multiple sources to build a much larger, more detailed model of the world.

Niantic’s LGM combines billions of images and data points captured by Pokémon GO players and other sources to create a highly detailed, scalable 3D representation of the environment.

This means that when players open the game, they’ll experience more realistic AR content, with digital elements that interact more naturally with the real world around them.

One of the most significant improvements the LGM brings to the game is the ability to predict and generate AR experiences even in locations that haven’t been directly scanned by players.

In other words, the model will not only know what areas look like from a player’s point of view but will also be able to infer what places might look like from different angles or under different lighting conditions.

This ability to “imagine” missing parts of the environment is a key feature of the LGM and allows for a smoother, more seamless gameplay experience.

The update will also allow Niantic to create more persistent AR experiences, where digital elements remain anchored to specific real-world locations over time.

This has the potential to enhance the game’s social features, allowing players to leave “digital markers” or even have real-world events take place in augmented spaces, fostering deeper interactions between the physical and digital worlds.

By leveraging the power of the Large Geospatial Model, Niantic is positioning Pokémon GO as a pioneer in the future of augmented reality gaming, paving the way for a more integrated and interactive digital world.

Startup Lighthouse Reaches $1 Billion Valuation, Becoming Europe’s Latest Unicorn - 2

Photo by Robert Wiedemann on Unsplash

Startup Lighthouse Reaches $1 Billion Valuation, Becoming Europe’s Latest Unicorn

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert

The SaaS company Lighthouse, specializing in the travel and hospitality industry, raised $370 million in a Series C round. The AI-powered data analytics startup based in London became Europe’s latest unicorn after this funding as it reached a $1 billion valuation.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • The SaaS company raised $370 million in a Series C round, led by the firm KKR
  • Lighthouse became Europe’s latest unicorn reaching a $1 billion valuation
  • The company currently provides AI-powered software to more than 70,000 hotels across 185 countries

According to a recent announcement , the funding comes from the investment firm KKR and the software provider expects to grow, expand, and invest in its current talents and network. Lighthouse currently has as clients over 70,000 hotels across 185 countries, including large brands like NH Hotel Group, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Radisson Hotels.

“We are thrilled to announce that we’ve secured a $370 million investment from leading global investment firm KKR to support the next phase of our growth,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, Lighthouse CEO, in the public statement. “With KKR’s support, we will accelerate the development of our next generation data and AI capabilities in the Lighthouse platform, giving our customers access to tools that deliver real business impact”

According to Sifted , the investment raised moves the startup to the unicorn category, raising a total of $470 million in funding. Lighthouse is now the twelfth unicorn of 2024 in Europe, following the lead of the German gym software provider Egym, the UK-based menstrual flow tracking app Flo, and the French AI startup Poolside.

Other big tech companies in Europe have also announced raising funds for growth and expansion. The London-based startup Tessl, the AI software development company, recently raised $125 million , reaching a $500 million valuation. The French company LightOn recently became the first generative AI company to be listed in the European market.