The company behind Pokémon Go is making a major bet on drones and artificial intelligence. Niantic Spatial, the spinoff from the creator of the global mobile gaming phenomenon Pokémon Go, has partnered with Spexi, which bills itself as the world’s largest decentralized drone imagery network, to build detailed 3D maps of the real world that could help train the next generation of AI systems and robots.
The two companies have announced a strategic partnership that aims to transform drone imagery into highly detailed 3D intelligence that can help power what many in the tech industry call “physical AI” — AI systems designed to understand and interact with real-world environments.
In simple terms, the deal combines Spexi’s massive network of drone pilots with Niantic Spatial’s advanced 3D reconstruction technology. The result is a system that can turn ordinary drone photos into accurate, measurable, city-scale digital models.
Why does that matter? Because the next generation of AI, robotics, and autonomous systems will need more than text and images. They’ll need an understanding of the physical world.
Under the partnership, customers will be able to commission drone flights through Spexi and receive highly detailed 3D reconstructions generated through Niantic Spatial’s Reconstruction API. These models can be viewed, measured, and placed on maps using Spexi’s platform.
