Pokémon Go Location Data Used to Train AI for Military Drone Navigation
Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, has partnered with Vantor, a spatial detection software company, to use AI models trained on location scan data from the game to help military drones navigate in areas without GPS access. The data came from players who voluntarily opted into the AR Scans feature between 2021 and Niantic's 2025 sale of its gaming division. The partnership raises concerns about civilian data being repurposed for military applications without explicit user awareness.
Niantic has confirmed a partnership with Vantor, a company specializing in spatial detection software for military drones, to leverage AI models trained on location scan data collected from Pokémon Go players. The AR Scans feature, introduced in 2021, allowed players to voluntarily upload camera recordings of real-world locations in exchange for in-game rewards. Both companies stated that the raw scan data was not directly provided to Vantor, but rather used to train Niantic's foundation models for spatial recognition. The partnership addresses GPS vulnerabilities in military operations, including signal jamming and spoofing. However, privacy advocates and researchers have raised concerns about the repurposing of civilian data for military purposes, noting that most users do not fully understand the terms of service governing their data. Vantor separately announced a deal with the US Army valued at up to $217 million for training software.
What different sources said
- The GuardianLeft
Pokémon Go data trained AI that could assist military drones in war zones
Pokémon Go data trained AI that could assist military drones in war zones
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