Pokemon Go was not merely a game designed for entertainment, it was a strategic move by Niantic to exploit user data and accelerate the development of a revolutionary AI-driven competitor to Google Maps. By encouraging players to explore physical locations in search of virtual creatures, the company was able to gather vast amounts of valuable data that would ultimately contribute to the creation of an AI-based navigation system.
Niantic’s vision was to develop a Visual Positioning System that would utilize real-world images collected from the game to enhance autonomous systems, navigation, and augmented reality products. Through the game, the company was able to amass detailed scans of over 10 million locations worldwide, with users contributing approximately one million new scans each week. This massive database of images served as the foundation for training more than 50 million neural networks, which were used to compress thousands of mapped images into digital recreations of real-world physical spaces.
The key to Niantic’s success lies in the unique approach it took to collecting data. Rather than relying on vehicles with cameras mounted on the roof, the company utilized individuals strolling around with their phones to capture imagery of streets, footpaths, parks, and businesses. By strategically situating PokeStops and Pokemon Gyms in locations that even Google did not have street view images of, Niantic was able to acquire a more detailed model of the world than ever before.
The blog post released by Niantic sheds light on the intricate process behind the development of the Visual Positioning System. It explains how a single image from a phone can be used to determine its position and orientation by utilizing a 3D map generated from scanned locations in the game and Scaniverse. This technology enables the system to identify unique landmarks and features, allowing for precise location tracking and navigation.
One of the challenges faced by Niantic in the development of this AI-driven navigation system is the need to create a global model that can accurately recognize and differentiate between various physical spaces. For example, if a user is standing behind a church, the system must be able to identify the specific church based on the limited information available. By leveraging the vast amount of data collected from scans all around the world, Niantic is able to train its neural networks to recognize patterns and similarities among different locations, thus enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the system.
The implications of this technology go far beyond just enhancing the Pokemon Go experience. Niantic envisions that the Visual Positioning System could be used to optimize walking paths between locations, understand user behavior and routines, and provide more immersive augmented reality experiences. By leveraging the power of AI and user-generated data, the company is paving the way for a new era of navigation and location-based services.
In conclusion, Pokemon Go was not just a game – it was a strategic move by Niantic to gather valuable data and accelerate the development of a groundbreaking AI-based navigation system. By leveraging user-generated images and scans from the game, the company has been able to create a detailed model of the world that has the potential to revolutionize the way we navigate and interact with our surroundings. The future of augmented reality, autonomous systems, and navigation products looks brighter than ever, thanks to the innovative work being done by Niantic.