Founded by self-driving pioneers Oliver Cameron and Jeff Hawke, the company has been a leader in the field of automated driving since its inception.Startups Odyssey has launched an AI-driven tool called Explorer.Text or images can be converted to 3D Rendering the scene.
1AI notes that Explorer is similar in some ways to the "world model" recently demonstrated by DeepMind, World Labs, and Israeli startup Decart, in that it can generate interactive real-time scenes by typing in descriptions such as "Japanese garden with lush greenery". Odyssey claims that the Explorer can generate interactive, real-time scenes by typing in descriptions such as "Japanese garden with lush greenery.Its tools are particularly good at creating realistic scenesThis is largely due to its unique technical approach:Explorer's AI models are trained on real-world landscapes captured by the company's custom 360-degree backpack camera system.
Odyssey says any scene generated by Explorer can be loaded into authoring tools like Unreal Engine, Blender, and Adobe After Effects for manual editing. This is accomplished by utilizing Gaussian sputtering, a decades-old volumetric rendering technique that reconstructs realistic scenes. Gaussian sputtering is widely supported in computer graphics tools.
In a blog post, Odyssey writes: "While still in the early stages, we are excited about the level of 3D detail and fidelity that Explorer is already capable of, and are optimistic about its potential for use in live-action movies, hyper-realistic games, and new forms of entertainment. While still in the research phase, full 3D generative world motion technology shows exciting promise that will enable artists to generate and manipulate motion in new and more realistic ways, and provide fine control that is difficult to replicate in generative video modeling."
Odyssey also recognizes that Explorer currently has some limitations. For example.The tool takes an average of 10 minutes to generate the scene, which is relatively low resolution and has some significant visual artifacts.
But the company said it has made trial versions of Explorer available to production companies such as Garden Studios and a "growing number" of independent artists in the UK, and has opened up the application process on its blog.
Creative practitioners may have mixed feelings about tools like Explorer, especially those in the film, television and games industries. A recent Wired Magazine survey found that game studios like Activision Blizzard, which have had massive layoffs, are utilizing AI to reduce costs, increase productivity, and make up for staff turnover. 2024 study commissioned by the Animation Guild, a union that represents animators and cartoonists in Hollywood, estimates that AI will impact more than 100,000 jobs in the U.S. motion picture, television, and animation industries by 2026.1 The study also found that the number of jobs lost in the film, television, and animation industries is expected to grow to over 100,000 in the United States. A study commissioned by the Animation Guild, a union representing Hollywood animators and cartoonists, estimates that by 2026, AI will result in the loss of more than 100,000 jobs in the U.S. film, television, and animation industries.
But Odyssey emphasized thatIts commitment to working with creative professionals, not replacing them. To that end, the company announced on Wednesday that Ed Catmull, one of the co-founders of Pixar and former president of Disney Animation Studios, has joined its board of directors and made an investment.
To date, Odyssey has raised $27 million from investors such as EQT Ventures, GV and Air Street Capital.
