Vision Pro dev kits on the way, XR startups raise $208 million in June, & Utherverse enter next generation.
Also this week...Tech giants form AI group to 'ensure safety', DPVR announce new enterprise headset, and Japanese PM hints at major Metaverse project.
Good morning Metaverse Business Brief readers. Let’s jump into the most relevant news from the immersive world in our weekly roundup.
Top Stories
Apple accept applications for Vision Pro dev kits. The tech giant has begun to open up to requests for hardware developer kits from app developers in an effort to ensure that enough content will be available on their first ever XR specific app store. The news comes amidst uncertainty regarding third party app support for the device, with only a few names confirmed during the WWDC June keynote. Apple are said to be providing regular check-in opportunities with experts to support the development process.
US AI leaders from industry safety group. Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and OpenAI have announced the creation of a “frontier model forum”. In a release co-authored by the members of the group, they confirm that they will exist to discuss the potential risks of AI, and support in the creation of industry standards. The forum also claim that they will support the development of applications to tackle threats like climate Change and cyber threats.
DPVR announce release of P2 headset. The P2 is the latest innovation from the Chinese manufacturer, who have developed the product for the enterprise market. The organisation claim that the new device will be geared towards corporations, schools, and medical institutions, with a focus on the use case of the device as a tool for training and efficiency improvement. DPVR are offering a customisation service for the device, allowing companies to tailor the headset hardware, software and branding to suit their own needs.
Japanese PM reaffirms country’s backing of Web3. In a web conference held on Tuesday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed the commitment of his nation to Web3 and Metaverse technologies, with Japan being leading early adopters in the immersive tech field. Kishda also hinted that a major ‘ambitious’ project was underway by a large Japanese company which would create a “valuable economic system in the Metaverse”.
In Funding
American AR,VR and XR start-ups hit new funding heights. In an investigation by PitchBook, it was proven that US based AR, VR, and XR startups raised $208 million in June. This was considered a 12 month high, aside from a December anomaly, with FT claiming that the launch of Apple’s Vision Pro was considered to be a catalyst for increasing attention.
MediTel project takes £2.3 million funding. The finances were awarded after a competition by the Defence and Security Accelerator, with MediTel consisting of a robotic system designed to provide medical assistance in high-risk scenarios. Developed in just 9 months, the ‘tank like’ medical robots are controlled by doctors utilising VR headsets.
Quench.ai raise $5 million. The London based startup, founded in 2021, has created an AI coaching platform that recommends videos to users who wish to learn new skills. Focused on upskilling, Quench.ai claim that their self directed ‘video first’ coaching service will save users time by eliminating choice paralysis.
Keep an eye on
Utherverse launch closed beta of ‘next generation’. Set to arrive on September 26th, the closed beta will provide users with a preview of the Metaverse platforms Web3 capabilities. Users will be able to test what is being touted as the final build of the ‘next generation’ of the platform. Utherverse usernames can be claimed, and social options explored, including the buying and selling of virtual goods.
Meta roll out ‘anti-abuse’ solution to minimise piracy. Developers will be able to use the new Platform Integrity Attestation API, which ensures the authenticity of apps and detects tampered VR devices. Meta claim that this method of app validation is a major “levelling up” of app security, and a necessity as the Meta Quest ecosystem continues to grow in both users and app distribution numbers.
PICO announce partnership with SB22. The collaboration is said to focus on the development of VR sports entertainment experiences. The fast growing SB22, who specialise in the field of immersive sports gambling and gaming, claim that the partnership will allow them to take these experiences to another level of “realism, interactivity, and immersion.” The agreement will see PICO hosting these experiences on their hardware headsets.
Sony reveal PSVR 2 development prototypes. In a blog post issued by Sony, the history of the Playstation VR2 headset and its development cycle is laid bare. Sony claim that the development of the device began in 2016, incredibly soon after the release of the first model. Initial designs are shown for the headset itself, alongside various controller prototypes that came before the PSVR 2 sense emerged - including a Valve Index ‘ring’ clone.
Events to be at
August 08 Online | Insights Live: How the Metaverse would Transform Education
August 30 Singapore | AWE Asia 2023
September 23 Online | Insights Live: How can CEOs stop feeling alone?
October 24-26 Houston | The 10th Augmented Enterprise Summit
November 30 Rotterdam | The 7th International VR Awards
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news and comments to team@aixr.org.
July 31 2023 Edition - Issue 30