Pokémon Go data used to train AI for navigation military use

Data collected from millions of players of the popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go has been used to train artificial intelligence models that now underpin navigation technology with potential military applications. The revelation has sparked a debate about the ethical implications of repurposing consumer data for defense-related systems.

The connection centers on historical scans submitted voluntarily by players through an optional in-game feature introduced in 2021. By scanning real-world locations like statues and fountains with their smartphones, users could earn in-game rewards. These scans, totaling tens of billions of images, were collected by Niantic, the game's original developer, before it sold its gaming division to Scopely in 2025.

That historical data was used to train Niantic's foundation AI models, which power a Visual Positioning System (VPS). This technology allows devices to determine their location by analyzing visual surroundings, a critical capability when GPS signals are unavailable, jammed, or spoofed. In December 2025, Niantic Spatial-a separate company spun off from Niantic's geospatial technology division-announced a partnership with Vantor, a firm...