Pokémon Go data helps train AI for military drone navigation

Pokémon Go data helps train AI for military drone navigation">

Location scans from the globally popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go have helped train AI to recognise and interpret physical spaces. The AI model, trained on data collected from users of Pokémon Go, could potentially help military drones find their location in war zones. Pokémon Go, a 2016 augmented reality mobile game, allowed players to find and catch Pokémon in the real world using the cameras on their mobile phones, and exploded in popularity.

By 2018, the company reported having more than 800m downloads worldwide. The use of Pokémon Go data to train AI models highlights the innovative applications of crowdsourced data. The AI model can learn to recognise and interpret physical spaces by analysing location scans from the game.

This capability could be particularly useful for military drones operating in unfamiliar or dynamic environments. The potential for AI models trained on Pokémon Go data to assist military drones in war zones raises questions about the intersection of gaming and defence technology. As AI continues to play a larger role in military operations, the use of unconventional data sources like Pokémon Go data could become more prevalent.

Why this matters: The integration of AI models trained on Pokémon Go data into military drones has significant implications for the defence industry. It highlights the potential for innovative applications of commercial data sources in military contexts. For developers, this raises questions about the potential for other consumer-facing applications to contribute to defence technology.

For businesses, it underscores the importance of considering the broader applications and implications of their data. For consumers, it raises questions about the use of their data in military contexts. As AI continues to play a larger role in military operations, it remains to be seen how this technology will be developed and regulated.