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TechCrunchDec 26, 2021
Pokémon Go Creator Training AI on User Data
Above: Pokemon GO on App Store is seen in this illustration photo taken in Poland on Aug. 8, 2024. Image copyright: Jakub Porzycki/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
Niantic, the creator of the augmented reality (AR) game Pokémon Go, says it has collected over 10M location scans from players to develop a Large Geospatial Model (LGM) for artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
While the company is upfront about the information it collects and doesn't share data with third parties, its privacy policy offers no option to disable tracking—or clarity on how the data is used.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While there are certainly ethical questions to be dealt with, spatial AI will revolutionize industries by enabling machines to perceive and interact with 3D environments. This will benefit every economic sector, from health care to architecture to e-commerce. With this technology, society can build upon and interact with the physical world unlike ever before.
Establishment-critical narrative
Spatial intelligence firms like Niantic are much more terrifying than your typical greedy corporation. It's important to remember that Niantic's original company, Keyhole, was reportedly linked to the CIA's venture capital firm, In-Q-Tel. It is not far-fetched to assume that the US military and national security state are using private firms to track our every move.