Welcome back to Spatial Beats, where we round up all the top news and happenings from around the spatial computing spectrum, including its escalating infusions with AI and other emerging tech. Let’s dive in…
The Lede
AI isn’t taking a vacation. If anything, its strides are getting wider and wider.
Haiper AI Upgrade Adds Eight-Second Video Generation. The London-based AI platform for visual content creation, today launches Haiper 1.5, the eight-second video generation capability for its widely used video generation tool. This announcement follows Haiper’s launch and $13.8M seed round earlier this year. This puts them squarely in the ring with RunwayML, Pika, and Luma Labs, who have all raised much more money. OpenAI’s Sora, and Kling, from China’s Kuaishou Technology, make even longer videos. Since its launch in March, Hapier surpassed the 1.5 million user milestone. Its latest product update also features an integrated upscaler tool to enhance content to HD quality and it will soon add a still image generation tool.
Feeling Spatial
JigSpace Reels in $13 million. The 3D presentation platform that turns CAD models into instantly usable ‘Jigs,’ has been featured in four Apple keynotes, with its demo app pre-installed on Apple Vision Pro and iPads. CEO Zac Duff aims to expand the team in Melbourne, open a US office, and further develop their product with the proceeds. The investment was led by Breakthrough Victoria, coinciding with the Australian release of Apple Vision Pro. Additional investors include Aura Ventures, Anorak Ventures, Rampersand, Investible, Vulpes Ventures, and angel investor Hugh Bickerstaff. This funding follows a $6 million Series A round raised in 2021.
A new location-based Snapchat augmented reality experience called “Ghost Variations” is coming to Lincoln Center in NYC. The free outdoor experience debuts Saturday, July 20, and will be available through August 10th. The experience is collaboratively brought to life by creative technologist Alexis Zerafa and digital artist and sculptor Sophie Kahn and visualizes mental health through a Snapchat augmented reality Lens. You can find QR codes in the lobby of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. It’s also on the website and Snapchat Explorer.
- Meta Reportedly in Talks with Ray-Ban Maker to Deepen XR Ties via Minority Stake
- Google Blocks Set For Open Source Rebirth On Quest, Pico & Steam
- Meta’s AR/VR Hardware Teams Must Reportedly Cut Spending By 20%
- The Latest Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Smash Sales Expectations – XR Today
- Audible brings storybooks to life with innovative global AR campaign
- IIFX & PIXO VR Roll Out VR Training Pilot at Mercedes Benz Stadium
- Why Olympic Venues Are Using Digital Twins
- Interviewing Epic Games Founder/CEO Tim Sweeney and Author/Entrepreneur Neal Stephenson
- Meta’s CTO Bosworth starts predicting what kind of VR headset we will have in 2031
The AI Desk
Artificial Agency Launches Out of Stealth with $16M in Funding to Bring Generative Behavior to Gaming. The Edmonton company plans to create AI-driven characters and systems that have situational awareness and contextually correct responses. By embedding AI-driven decision-making into every aspect of a game, developers can craft characters with distinct personalities, goals, and actions. This approach enables minor improvisation in scripted interactions and even full emergent gameplay. The $16M funding round was led by Radical Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and other notable investors, including Flying Fish, Kaya, BDC Deep Tech, and TIRTA Ventures.
An AI Documentary About Brian Eno. That makes sense. Each viewing of the film is uniquely crafted through bespoke software designed by Hustwit and Brendan Dawes. This innovative approach, involving 30 hours of interviews and 500 hours of footage, promises 52 quintillion possible versions, transforming every screening into a distinct experience. Hustwit’s endeavor transcends traditional filmmaking, echoing Eno’s legacy in generative art and challenging static cinematic norms. As “Eno” evolves with every showing, it showcases a novel form of storytelling, setting the stage for the future of generative filmmaking. The film is in two theaters right now, Film Forum in New York, AFS Cinema Austin, and in the UK.
TCLtv+ Bowing Streamer’s First AI-Generated Sci-Fi Short Film. The ad-supported streaming service announced its first AI-generated sci-fi short film, “Message in a Bot.” The film, debuting on YouTube and X today, will premiere on TCLtv+ on July 22. It explores humanity’s response to an alien craft crash-landing on Earth with advanced technology. TCL plans to differentiate itself in the streaming market through innovative AI applications in content development.
Ilgiza is a Russian artist and ux/ui designer. She’s been working with cinematic AI for about a year. Her AI short “Loneliness” was made with Luma Labs Dream Machine. “My study started with the Pikalabs tool. They have a very strong discord community, which organizes daily competitions. I won ten times and became a Pikalabs super collaborator. After that, I became a creative partner of tools like Pixverse, Runway, Luma ai, Nim, Morph. This gives me access to early features and unlimited use of the tool.”
Listen In
For more spatial commentary & insights, check out This Week in XR, hosted by author Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, former studio executive and co-founder of Red Camera, and Rony Abovitz, founder of Magic Leap. This week our guest is Sarah Nagy, founder and CEO, Seek AI.. You can find it on podcasting platforms Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
Charlie Fink is an author and futurist focused on spatial computing. See his books here. Spatial Beats contains insights and inputs from Fink’s collaborators including Paramount Pictures futurist Ted Shilowitz.
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