Matrix Mill, a company developing computer vision and machine learningsoftware that helps infer 3D information about the surrounding world, has been acquired by Niantic Labs Inc, the company that developed the augmented reality game phenomenon Pokémon Go.
A spin-out from the University College London, Matrix Mill spent years building deep neural networks that "can infer the complete 3D information about the surrounding world from one or more cameras." The company’s patent-pending algorithms reportedly enable them to "redefine how machines see and understand the world," and how "digital objects can interact with real elements."
The Matrix Mill team, suggests John Hanke, Niantic CEO, has come up with novel ideas that "push the boundaries of what machines can process, thinking around occlusions, and seeing the world closer to the way human eyes can." As a result, he suggests, augmented reality experiences can feel more natural to the eye.
Matrix Mill is set to establish a research-driven artificial intelligence lab for Niantic in London, according to Dr. Gabriel Brostow, Matrix Mill co-founder. Integrating with Niantic R&D and art teams, Matrix Mill "significantly advances our computer vision and machine learning efforts," according to Hanke.
"We are committed to investing aggressively in R&D that can enhance the experiences of our users, both today and in the decades to come," wrote Hanke in a blog post. "The addition of the Matrix Mill team also allows us to continue to deliver on planet-scale AR, and helps us advance the Niantic Real World Platform."
View the blog post.
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