Pokémon Go Player Data Utilized for AI Navigation Technology, Including Military Drones
An artificial intelligence company has reportedly used billions of real-world images, originally captured by millions of Pokémon Go players, to develop navigation technologies. These advanced systems are intended for applications such as delivery robots and potentially military drones. This development stems from Niantic Spatial, an AI company spun out of Pokémon Go developer Niantic, which had publicly announced plans to use such data to create a large geospatial model of the physical world.
An AI company has reportedly repurposed billions of real-world images, originally captured by millions of Pokémon Go players, to develop navigation technologies. These technologies are intended for use in delivery robots and potentially military drones.
The AI company, Niantic Spatial, was spun out of Pokémon Go game developer Niantic in May 2025. This occurred after Niantic sold its licensed games, including Pokémon Go, to the Saudi-backed video game publisher Scopely. Prior to this sale, Niantic publicly announced its intention to use scans from millions of Pokémon Go players, along with data from users of its Scaniverse app, to train and develop a "large geospatial model."
This geospatial model is a 3D representation of the physical world, trained on geolocated images provided by app users scanning real-world locations. A spokesperson for Niantic Spatial confirmed that "Ground scans were one component to help train Niantic Spatial's real-world foundation models —AI systems that learn to recognize and interpret physical spaces."
The spokesperson further clarified that "The models are the product of that training, not a copy of or a means of accessing the underlying scans, which were of public points of interest such as statues and fountains."
(Source: Ars Technica)
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