Vienna-based 3D Generative AI Platform Emerges with $6 Million in Funding
A Vienna-based 3D generative AI platform has stepped out of stealth mode with $6 million in funding. Atlas, a company that aims to develop better AI models for the gaming industry, has announced plans to launch an alpha version of the platform later this year. The goal is to enable smaller, medium, and indie game developers to leverage Atlas and build their own worlds more efficiently.
The Offering
Atlas offers a 3D AI platform launched in 2020. It aims to accelerate the creation of virtual worlds and experiences for game developers and brands building video games and extended reality (XR) environments.
Funding and Investors
The $6 million came in two funding rounds, a $4.5 million round led by 6th Man Ventures and a $1.5 million round led by Collab+Currency. Other investors joining the fundraise include Square Enix, the a16z Scouting Fund via Shrapnel, Contango, Gaingels, GFR Fund, New Renaissance Ventures, Wagmi Ventures, Flamingo DAO, Founders Inc., Landvault, Monaverse, Neon DAO, and Slope Fund.
The Impact of Generative AI in Game Development
Recent developments in image-generating artificial intelligence have made it possible for game developers to design characters and landscapes more efficiently. This has allowed indie studios to better compete with larger AAA game studios.
Other Players in the Space
Nvidia unveiled its Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE), which uses generative AI to create game scenes and non-player characters. Hiber launched Hiber3D using Google’s generative AI technology in its online game development platform. Nvidia also joined forces with Masterpiece Studio to release Masterpiece X, designed to make 3D modeling as easy as creating a two-dimensional image.
The Ethical Considerations
Atlas CEO Ben James emphasized the importance of building AI technology on ethically sourced training data and protecting intellectual property. The company was trained on its own data using sparse representation to safeguard IP and ensure that each developer’s AI model remains unique.
Looking Ahead
James expressed optimism about expanding Atlas to include a broader range of AI-powered tools that simplify complex tasks like 3D modeling and coding.
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