Pokemon Go scans helped train navigation AI now linked to drones

In short: Optional location scans made by Pokémon Go players helped train Niantic Spatial’s navigation AI, and the same technology is now tied to work that could support drones in places where GPS does not work.

What's going on

A report says Niantic Spatial, an AI company spun out of game maker Niantic in May 2025, has trained navigation technology using billions of real-world images captured by players of Pokémon Go. The images came from an optional feature where players recorded short videos of public places, plus data from Niantic’s Scaniverse app.

Niantic Spatial said the scans were used to train its AI models, not to create a system that lets someone browse or access the original videos. It said the scans focused on public points of interest, like statues and fountains, and that it has said since 2019 that scans could be used to improve its technology.

The result is a “visual positioning system,” which is a way for a device to figure out where it is by matching what a camera sees to a detailed 3D map (like recognizing a street corner by looking at it, instead of asking GPS). This can help in dense cities, indoors, or in areas with GPS jamming.

Niantic Spatial has promoted the tech for delivery robots through a partnership with Coco Robotics. It has also worked with Vantor on navigation for “GPS-denied” environments, a phrase often used in military settings. Both companies told Ars Technica that the deal does not involve sharing Pokémon Go player data directly.

What to watch

More scrutiny is likely around consent and expectations. Some players may feel that agreeing to a game feature is not the same as agreeing to military-related uses later. A practical step for users is to watch app privacy policies and terms, since they can allow data to be reused in ways that are not obvious at the time.

Source: Arstechnica