Pokemon Go players have unknowingly become contributors to an ambitious artificial intelligence mapping project. Game developer Niantic recently revealed it's leveraging player-submitted data to build a comprehensive AI model of the physical world.
The popular augmented reality game, which has surpassed 600 million downloads since its 2016 launch, allows players to catch virtual Pokemon creatures in real-world locations. When players scan PokéStops and gyms at various landmarks, they're actually helping Niantic collect geolocation data for its Visual Positioning System (VPS).
"Our players have helped us build an incredible database of over 10 million scanned locations worldwide, with approximately 1 million new scans added weekly," a Niantic spokesperson explained in their announcement. These scans offer a unique "pedestrian perspective" that traditional car-based mapping systems cannot capture.
The company's VPS processes these geolocated images to generate detailed 3D maps and understand geographic locations, including areas that haven't been fully documented. This growing dataset helps create an increasingly accurate model of the physical world from a ground-level view.
However, this data collection raises privacy concerns among cybersecurity experts. "Companies finding new ways to utilize customer data has become expected in today's tech landscape," notes Anton Dahbura, Executive Director of Johns Hopkins University's Information Security Institute.
While Niantic maintains privacy policies for both adult and child players, experts recommend taking precautions. Players should avoid scanning private spaces like homes and minimize capturing images of other people. Location data can be particularly sensitive, as it may reveal access to critical infrastructure or sensitive facilities.
The gaming community now faces a complex reality: their entertainment simultaneously serves as a massive data collection operation. As AI technology advances, player-generated content increasingly feeds into larger technological initiatives beyond the game itself.
For Pokemon trainers concerned about privacy, experts suggest limiting gameplay to public spaces and being mindful of what information they share through scans. As the line between gaming and data collection continues to blur, players must balance their gaming experience with personal privacy considerations.