Geospatial AI
Ongoing coverage on Geospatial AI.
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Pokémon GO scan controversy resurfaces after Niantic Spatial defense partnership
Concerns have resurfaced regarding Niantic's use of player-scanned data from Pokémon GO, following a partnership between its geospatial division, Niantic Spatial, and defense technology company Vantor. While no direct evidence links Pokémon GO scan data to military systems, Niantic Spatial's Visual Positioning System, trained on billions of player scans, is being integrated into navigation technology for GPS-denied environments, raising ethical questions about the repurposing of consumer-generated data for potential defense applications.
If you're still playing Pokémon Go, you're helping train data-gobbling GPS AI for Niantic Spatial
Niantic is leveraging data from its popular game Pokémon Go to train AI models for its spinout company, Niantic Spatial. This initiative aims to create highly precise digital maps of the physical world, enabling machines and robots to navigate and interact with their surroundings. The collected data, which users agree to in the terms of service, is being used to develop geospatial AI with potential applications for delivery robots, AR glasses, and even the military.
